The Weight of the Word

The rest of the story. Well, some of the rest of the story. You would need to keep reading chapter 12 and then the whole rest of David’s story to get an idea of the impact of this event on his time as king of the people of God. And you can keep reading to find out the impact of this event on Bathsheba. But you won’t find anything. We know nothing from the text of Bathsheba’s motivations or interpretations. She is kept silent throughout the telling of the story. Even the historical record labels her as “the wife of Uriah” and not a person in her own right. Some might argue that this is to keep David’s sin before us, but it makes Bathsheba a pawn in the whole sordid game. As Cameron Howard, Old Testament Professor at Luther Seminary in Minnesota puts it,

And why does this matter? It is probably beyond the ability of any preacher to redeem this story and reclaim Bathsheba’s identity, given the lack of information we have. But to draw attention to this could resonate with members of the congregation who are feeling similarly overlooked and victims to a patriarchal system that consistently overlooks the role of women in our society. It might also be something of an antidote to centuries of speculation and blaming that has painted Bathsheba as somehow responsible for all that happened to her.

We examined the details last week when we acknowledged the place of confession in our worship experience. Our text begins this week with a woman weeping and an angry God. So, God does what an angry God does and sends a preacher. Nathan uses an effective homiletical device and tells a story. He tells the story well, and David is caught up in it. David is led to see the injustice and abuse of power in the tale of the little lamb, even when he can overlook it in his own life and actions.

This is the power of the proclaimed word in worship. When done well, it doesn’t merely explain a biblical text; instead, it can open us up to a new way of seeing ourselves and the world around us and, perhaps most importantly, seeing ourselves in the world. Preaching is about making connections, about building relationships, and about weaving our story and the gospel story together in transforming, disciple-making ways. And sometimes preaching is about calling to account. It is hard to imagine Nathan relishing approaching the king with this word. Just as any preacher who is also a pastor and has walked with people through struggles and joys alike would be hard-pressed to bring a hard word to the people.

Of course, the kind of message that Nathan brought isn’t appropriate for the pulpit. It is more of an individual challenge. We aren’t trying to suggest that preaching is how we call individuals to task for their behaviors or choices. And yet, there is a weight to God’s word at times that we cannot deny. Preaching calls for transformation, and change is always hard. Even when it is change that we want, or think we want, anyway. It is still change. There is a built-in resistance to change, and it is a hard word to hear.

David’s response to Nathan’s sermon might give some insight into what it means when he is called a man after God’s heart. Despite his behavior throughout this sordid event, he is willing to see the innate sinfulness of it all. It is as if he is the prodigal who has finally come to himself in this moment, and he sees more clearly what he has done. reading on in the chapter, we see that there are consequences to come and innocents to suffer from this. We can wrestle with the fairness of the child paying for the sin of the father; it seems the opposite of the theology that Jesus calls us to hold. But that there is fallout from our actions is evident and overwhelming. Children often suffer from the actions of the adults around them. The call, then, is to be aware of our interrelatedness and understand that what we do can never be completely harm-free, despite what our “common wisdom” might tell us. In the real world, there is really no such thing as a victimless crime.

So, let the word speak to God’s people this week, as it does every week. Let the proclamation be one of transformation, repentance, and restitution. Let there be a challenge to all to not abuse their power, their position, their authority. And let us hold our leaders to a high standard in life and official capacity. Let us see all the people who might be impacted by our choices and our preferences. Let us hear the weight of the word that tears down and builds up in equal measure.

Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries, served churches in Indiana and Arkansas and the British Methodist Church. His PhD is from University of Edinburgh in preaching and media. He has taught preaching in seminary and conference settings for more than 20 years.