(a) Narrate the story of the death of the first child born to David by Uriah's wife. [9 marks] (b) State any three lessons to be derived from the episode. [...

(a) The death of the first child born to David by Uriah's wife (2 Samuel 12:15-23)

After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle, the prophet Nathan rebuked him and declared that, because he had despised the LORD, the child born to him would surely die. David confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD," and Nathan told him the LORD had put away his sin so that he would not die, but that the child would die.

The LORD then struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and it became very sick. David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted, went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor would he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. His servants were afraid to tell him, saying, "While the child was still alive we spoke to him and he would not listen; how then can we say the child is dead? He may do himself harm."

But David perceived from their whispering that the child was dead and asked, "Is the child dead?" They answered, "He is dead." Then David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went into the house of the LORD and worshipped. He then returned home and asked for food and ate. His servants were surprised and asked why he had fasted and wept while the child was alive but rose and ate when it died. David answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

(b) Three lessons from the episode

• Sin has consequences, and even a forgiven sinner may still bear the results of his wrongdoing.
• Genuine repentance and submission to the will of God bring peace and acceptance, as seen in David's worship after the child's death.
• Fervent prayer and fasting are proper while there is hope, but one must humbly accept God's final decision and not despair.