Be The Woman You Wish You Had In Your Life

Struggling to face the day, she pushes herself to get out of bed. She survived the murder of her husband, the death of her baby, and the complications of remarrying. His children from other women made her life difficult but she learned to bear it with grace. It is hard to be the eighth wife of a king.

As she ventured into the palace halls, Nathan the prophet approached her.

“Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king and our lord David does not know it? ¹² Now please come and let me advise you. Save your life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Go, approach King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne? So why has Adonijah become king?’ ¹⁴ At that moment, while you are still there speaking with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm your words.” (1 Kings 1:11-14)

She hurried to the king’s bedside; certain he would fulfill the promise he made to her. Solomon, her son would be king. She knew she would not have to fight for her son’s throne but claimed it at the request of the king.

Deep within the story of Bathsheba, we see a beautiful intergenerational relationship story. It can be lost in the torrid details of her relationship with King David. Bathsheba devoted her life to her son, Solomon. Long before he took the throne, she poured into him the wisdom she gleaned from those around her. After his coronation, she sat at his right hand.

1 Kings 2:19 (CSB)  So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about Adonijah. The king stood up to greet her, bowed to her, sat down on his throne, and had a throne placed for the king’s mother. So she sat down at his right hand.

The “right side” was a place of honor and even authority. Bathsheba, often called an adulteress, rose above that identity and became a woman of royalty. A profound example to us, we are reminded our past does not dictate our future.

We see no example of a strong female influence in her life, however, there are hints of a respectful relationship with Nathan the prophet. It is possible that he guided her as she entered the life of nobility. This allowed her to become the woman she wished she had in her life before her encounter with King David.

As the Holy Spirit guides us, we are each empowered to grow in strength, learning to be a mentor for those who follow behind us. Through God’s Word and prayer, the Spirit teaches us to become more like Jesus. Trust Him to continue the work He has started in you.