Bathsheba

Worthy of Respect  

God breathes creation and restoration. He doesn’t want separation, but instead wants reconciliation. Despite being a godly man, David’s marriage to Bathsheba started off entwined deep in sin: infidelity, deceit, and murder. And yet, God brought healing and restoration upon them. God loved David and David honored God by loving Bathsheba. God healed their marriage and they started a family. 

Bathsheba was a woman who earned respect from both her husband and son. She spent many years playing both the roles of servant to the king and wife to David. When Bathsheba’s son, Solomon, became king, she became the queen mother and a trusted advisor. Both David and Solomon held Bathsheba in such high respect that they listened to and valued her opinion.

The Bible subtly depicts her role and the place she held in the court and in her family. Bathsheba both bowed down to her king (1 Kings 1:16,31), and stood by her ailing husband (1 Kings 1:28). Later, Solomon, as king, bowed down to his mother as she sat at the right hand of his throne (1 Kings 2:19). Then one glorious day, Bathsheba gracefully poised herself to crown her son on his wedding day (Song of Songs 3:11). 

Respect = Submission + Love + Obedience. Respect does not exist without submission, love and obedience working in tandem.

One day our babies may grow up to get married and have their own babies. As our children grow older, we can only pray that they will continue to respect us, and look to us for counsel and wisdom. Bathsheba’s son grew up to be the wisest and the wealthiest king, but he was human. Despite his parents guiding him, he still made sinful decisions. Ours will, too, just like we have. 

Mamas, it is time for us to get on our knees and intercede for our children. It is up to us to teach them about what a relationship with God looks like, that His Son Jesus died for us, and how to live our lives as Christ wants us to live them. We need to live the life God calls us to live, and be strong and beautiful representations of what a wife and mother is in the eyes of God.