Oh what a tangled...

Then David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. – 2 Samuel 11.6-9

David had himself in quite a fix. He was the king. He should have been out fighting with his men. Instead he had slept with his general’s wife and now she was pregnant. He had really messed up. What could he do now.

So came up with an elaborate plan. He called for Uriah to return to Jerusalem. When he got there David told Uriah to take a break from the battle and spend the night with his wife.

David of course hoped that Uriah and Bathsheba would do what any couple would do when they spent the night together after an absence. Then of course David could claim that Bathsheba’s baby was Uriah’s and not his.

That would have solved everything.

But David did not count on Uriah being a man of character. He that Uriah would do what he would have done.

But Uriah spent the night on the doorstep. He would not go in a enjoy his conjugal pleasure with his wife when his men were on the battlefield. David came Uriah another chance and still he would not go in to Bathsheba.

David was making a real mess of things. His lust, then his sin, and now his lies and deception showed the depths to which the man of God was sinking.

But there is even worse to come.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive! – Sir Walter Scott