Short Story..."Pride, Deception, Grief, and Mercy"

Black as night are the locks of her hair, and her shape more perfect than diamonds. I simply went for a walk on the roof; who would imagine my eyes would fall upon such beauty below. I wonder if she is given to another man? A woman with her splendor must be. But I am the king of Israel; I can have what I want, can I not? I am not just any king either, but the same king who is the slayer of the giant Goliath, the one who stood courageously before this beast when the other soldiers held back, shaking in their armor. Surely I am not boasting, but simply stating the truth just the way it is! I, King David, have been placed in the authority of kingship by God himself. I was called long before I was crowned; I deserve a little pride in myself by now. And I deserve that beautiful woman that I see below bathing in the sunlight.
“Messenger, go and send for that woman down there. I wish to speak with her. Does she belong to someone?”
“Yes my Lord. She is the wife of Uriah, your faithful soldier.”
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Well that complicates things a bit, but nothing I can’t handle. I just wanted to see her, it’s not like I am going to take her as my wife. And now that she is here in front of me, her beauty is even more radiant than I remember. Her countenance is innocent, and her eyes show the purity of her soul. Although her dress is beautiful, I am sure it doesn’t do justice for what is underneath. Is she as prude as she is quiet? How can I have her? Her dear husband is fighting my war, but he won’t even have to know; that is, if she can keep a secret. She’s quiet enough here in my presence, I’m sure she has to be a confidential person. There is only one way to find out. Besides, I am the king of Israel; if something goes wrong, it won’t be too hard to cover up a tiny problem.
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Uriah is a good man. From the day he started working for me, I have yet to find a flaw in his service, his character, his integrity. He is strong and fights hard in battle. He has been a faithful friend to me, more loyal than anyone I know. It will be hard to find a replacement, but it must happen. What’s done is done with Bathsheba. She is with child and it is not Uriah’s. But I am the king of Israel; I’m not going to let one person destroy my God-given kingship over one night with his wife.
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I thought Uriah might enjoy a night with Bathsheba, after being gone for so long in battle. But since he has refused to eat the food I offer and sleep in the guest quarters because he is restless and worried for the others who are unprotected, then I will put him where he can’t be protected. Tomorrow when he returns to battle, I will order that he be placed on the front line of battle. Because he is faithful he will do what is asked of him, even if it takes his life (the very thing I pray will happen).
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Oh Lord what have I done?! I tear my clothes in mourning over this act of murder. Why didn’t I see this before? Was I too arrogant to see the terrible sin and deceit that was in my heart? Is it too late to erase the events of these past days? I have gone from a great and mighty king to the lowest pagan that begs for mercy. Thank You for sending Nathan to me, your servant who came with a message through parable. He said the very thing I fear the most: I will lose the son that my new wife, Bathsheba, is carrying. All of Israel will know what I have done with her; they will realize the plot against Uriah, my good friend and faithful soldier. What kind of king will they think I am? Surely they will doubt my authority from this point on; my kingship will be ineffective. I’m going to fail as a king, a husband, a father, and as Your son, oh God. Will my heart ever be whole again? Will I be able to serve my land and care for my wife when my own strength is broken? My wife, my sweet and beautiful wife. She has lost her first husband to death, and now she will lose her second husband to death. For this is no way to live; although I eat and breath, I have no life in me. I have nothing to offer her; who will comfort her when her son is dead, and who will provide for her another son? Surely not I, oh Lord. I have nothing left to give. What I have is filthy and ragged. She deserves better than that; Israel deserves better than that. “Have mercy on me, Oh God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin….Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me- now let me rejoice….You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit….”
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As surely as I am alive today, the God of Israel lives and reigns! He is merciful and shows kindness to his undeserving servants. I, King David, cannot compare to the real King of Israel. It wasn’t long ago that I felt in ruins, but God has restored my strength. Israel still has their king, but I am a changed king. I don’t know that there is any pride left in me, for I know who I am without the Lord. He is so good; my beautiful wife has conceived again. She is due to give birth to a son soon, and he will be loved by God. Because of God’s mercy, I can still be the king, the husband, and the father I have desired to be all along. But it comes with a price, and that price is my life. A debt I am willing to pay, for it doesn’t come close to what I owe to the Lord. “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.”