Chaplains’ Chat

Life can bring all sorts of twists and turns, including the unexpected. Some of these can be pleasant surprises, while others can be devasting. I had the joy of having my brother visit Australia in the last few weeks and it was wonderful to see him. However, we can also experience the sadness and devastation of an unfavourable medical diagnosis that springs up unexpectedly. These sorts of life events are largely out of our hands. However, there are also times when we bring problems onto ourselves through what we do.

While we have seen great features of David, his life and his character this Term in Chapel, this week we also saw how he brought about great pain, anguish and grief on others as a result of his actions. In 2 Samuel 11, we read that King David sleeps with Bathsheba, who is the wife of one of his commanders who is fighting at war, and she falls pregnant. In the ensuing events, David tries to cover up his actions. This event with David leads to him putting the husband of Bathsheba on the front line of battle for him to be killed. While David initially thinks he has got away with this, we read that God himself knows what he has done. It is remarkable that this story even makes it into the Bible. It certainly doesn’t paint David and his actions in a favourable light, and rightly so. The conclusion of this story will reflect devastating consequences as a result of David’s actions. And yet we are also meant to see that despite David doing this, he will turn back to God for forgiveness and restoration. The wonderful Bible narrative tells us that, like David, there is forgiveness and restoration for all who depend on God.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain