When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee. (Psalm 50:2 DR)
Part of what makes Psalm 50 the preeminent Psalm of contrition and repentance is that the sin is confessed in the title of the Psalm. And while it doesn’t go into detail of the events of the sin (which is recounted more fully in 2 Samuel 11), the failure is presumably so well-known that the Psalmist (that is, David himself) is content to allude to it and his later rebuke by the prophet Nathan (cf. 2 Samuel 12).
It is generally not a great idea to linger over others’ sins lest one fall into the trap of curiosity, and one must always be on guard so that the same enticements do not overtake one’s own heart. St. Augustine in his exposition isn’t exactly chomping at the bit, as it were, to talk about it, except for the potential warning it proffers:
With grief indeed we speak, and with trembling; but yet God would not have to be hushed what He has willed to be written. I will say then not what I will, but what I am obliged; I will say not as one exhorting to imitation, but as one instructing you to fear. (St. Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms, 50, 2.)
He is of course speaking not only of the title of this Psalm but also of the events precipitating this Psalm which are recorded elsewhere. The scandalous choices and sins that David falls into are not intended to titillate but rather to serve as a warning about falling into the same sorts of sins, as well as the way in which sin entices us. We ignore them at our peril:
What men should beware of, we have said; but what if they shall have fallen they should imitate, let us hear. For many men will to fall with David, and will not to rise with David. Not then for falling is the example set forth, but if you shall have fallen for rising again. Take heed lest you fall. Not the delight of the younger be the lapse of the elder, but be the fall of the elder the dread of the younger. For this it was set forth, for this was written, for this in the Church often read and chanted: let them hear that have not fallen, lest they fall; let them hear that have fallen, that they may rise. So great a man's sin is not hushed, is proclaimed in the Church. (St. Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms, 50, 3.)
David’s fall was not a sudden or accidental thing but was a series of choices which snowballed from negligence all the way to murder:
David as king should have led his troops into battle, but stayed in his palace, which was both pride in his position and neglect of his duties.
This neglect left him idle and afforded the opportunity to indulge in curiosity when he happened to see Bethsabee (Bathsheba) bathing.
Instead of turning away and occupying himself with duties, prayer, etc., he allowed this curiosity to take hold of him and it eventually turned into lust.
Rather than repenting of his lust, in his pride as king he felt he had the right to have her, and so indulged his passions and had her brought to him.
After discovering she was pregnant by him, he tried to have her husband neglect his duties so as to cover up the affair. He even tried to manipulate her husband when he was drunk into compliance, but Uriah’s sense of duty and honor composed him even in his inebriation.
Instead of being chastened by his loyal soldier’s honor and coming clean about the matter, David conspires to have him killed, and even cynically makes Uriah the carrier of his own execution orders.
Once Uriah is dead by David’s orders, David marries Bethsabee both to cover up the infidelity and the murder, while also cynically receiving praise for giving the widow of a brave fallen soldier a home, when otherwise she might be destitute.
In every moment David could have chosen differently, and it might have stopped at just neglect of duties. This opening to the greater sin exists for us all, and is why prosperity can be dangerous and suffering can be a great means to holiness, as St. Augustine explains in this brilliant passage:
He admonishes, moreover, by such an example, that no one ought to lift himself up in prosperous circumstances. For many [that] fear adverse circumstances, fear not prosperous circumstances. Prosperity is more perilous to soul than adversity to body.
First, prosperity does corrupt, in order that adversity may find something to break. My brethren, stricter watch must be kept against felicity. Wherefore, see ye after what manner the saying of God amid our own felicity does take from us security: “Serve ye, He says, the Lord in fear, and exult unto Him with trembling.” In exultation, in order that we may render thanks; in trembling, lest we fall. This sin did not David, when he was suffering Saul for persecutor. When holy David was suffering Saul his enemy, when he was being vexed by his persecutions, when he was fleeing through various places, in order that he might not fall into his hands, he lusted not for her that was another's, he slew not husband after committing adultery with wife. He was in the infirmity of his tribulation so much the more intimate with God as he seemed more miserable.
Something useful is tribulation; useful the surgeon's lancet rather than the devil's temptation. He became secure when his enemies were overthrown, pressure was removed, swelling grew out. This example therefore does avail to this end, that we should fear felicity. “Tribulation,” he says, “and grief I found, and on the name of the Lord I called.” (St. Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms, 50, 4.)
This is an often overlooked aspect of the story, but is vital. David was closest to God when he was in the most distress, as many of his Psalms which plead for help in the midst of persecution exhibit. When he was on the run for his life from king Saul he had so much integrity and respect for God and His anointed that he refused to kill king Saul even when he had the opportunity, lest he should sin against God and His anointed (although Saul would not have hesitated to kill him).
It is only when David assumes the kingship and is prosperous and at peace that he loses his first love (cf. Apocalypse 2:4-5) and falls into sin. He was not threatened in his life, was not suffering and had every blessing imaginable. It was this prosperity that led to his pride in himself and his position which then led to neglect of his duties and eventually snowballed from there. He allowed sin to take hold in his heart little by little and it led to a great fall.
However, the fall is not the end of the story, for we have all sinned grievously in one manner or another. His sin is not recounted that we might make excuses for or sins, but rather so that we might avoid sin and—like David—come to repentance. The incredible wonder of this Psalm and the Holy Ghost’s inspiration of it is that in David’s case the prophet Nathan had to be sent to him to wake him from his stupor, but in our case David himself comes to us—sinner to sinner—to exhort us to repentance and to be hopeful in God’s mercy:
But if any that has already fallen hears these words, and that has in his conscience any evil thing; to the words of this Psalm let him advert; let him heed the greatness of the wound, but not despair of the majesty of the Physician.
This Psalm then, while it makes heedful those that have not believed, so does not will them that have fallen to be despaired of. Whoever you are that hast sinned, and hesitatest to exercise penitence for your sin, despairing of your salvation, hear David groaning. To you Nathan the prophet has not been sent, David himself has been sent to you. Hear him crying, and with him cry: hear him groaning, and with him groan; hear him weeping, and mingle tears; hear him amended, and with him rejoice. If from you sin could not be excluded, be not hope of pardon excluded. (St. Augustine, Expositions on the Psalms, 50, 5.)
For this animation I naturally wanted to avoid depicting the sin spoken of in this passage, but instead focused on Nathan coming to David and confronting him. The image is by Eugène Siberdt and I thought it captured some great emotion. David seems to be ambivalent, for on the one hand he seems morose from a guilty conscience, but on the other seems kind of annoyed that this prophet would dare to confront him. I appreicate how the artist encapsulates that moment of decision, for David’s expression and posture indicate that he could choose to either repent or chop of Nathan’s head.
I kept this pretty simple, adding in some animated pixel sorting which follows the line of the prophet’s arm toward David, which is both the condemnation of his sin and the possibility of mercy.
Enjoy.
When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had sinned with Bethsabee.
(Psalm 50:2 DR)
View a higher quality version of this gif here: