A Child with Two Names

David has been rebuked strongly by the prophet Nathan. He has also lost a child knowing full well it was the results of his sin. Though he prayed earnestly and continually for the child's life to be spared, the child died. David then does something we can all learn from:

2 Samuel 12:24–25 (ESV) Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him 25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

It's a small moment at the end of a series of far larger moments. But it's an important moment for our understanding of the life of faith. Faith believes God even when we don't get what we want. We have lost the art of waiting on God for His plans to be fulfilled when they conflict with our desires. Most people want to serve the Lord so long as the life they map out goes according to plan. The name Nathan provides for the child is Jedidiah, which means, "Jehovah is a friend". The prophet wanted David to know the Lord was still his friend. But this is realized through the other name of the child.

Notice the name David gives the child: "Solomon" which comes from the Hebrew for "Peace" / Shalom. In my last post, I discussed how the first child born to Bathsheba and David was put to death by the Lord for the sin of David. This provides a picture of the cross. The Bible refers to this child as the child of "Uriah's wife." An interesting nomenclature that will reappear in Matthew 1 when speaking of the genealogy of Christ! Now if that first child became a picture of the substitutionary death of Christ, we must carry forward this picture of Christ in what we have in this present experience for David - Solomon, who represents the Peace of God that comes only through accepting the substitutionary death of Christ. 

One of the great struggles with faith is the tragic death of children in our world. However, faith reminds us that this life is not the end and there is heaven for children lost too soon. In heaven, they are loved, cared for and set in the presence of a Heavenly Father who will never let them see pain or tragedy again. Perhaps this is the faith David exhibits when he washes himself and goes back to regular life upon the child's death. But the deeper Gospel-centered meaning is that faith accepts Christ's tragic death for us which puts our life back to regularity and gives us peace with God. 

Romans 5:1 (ESV) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Further, we do well to notice David's great military victory after all these events have passed. All this time, Joab has been engaged in a protracted conflict with the Ammonites and now the battle has been won.

2 Samuel 12:26–28 (ESV) Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. 28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.”

David comes to the completion of the war to accept the kingly award of the enemy's crown and the spoils of the city. Notice how it reads:

2 Samuel 12:30 (ESV) And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

Having experienced the grace of God through substitutionary death, David now receives the peace of God and a great victory over his enemies. Is this fair? No. It is grace. The whole episode provides a picture of what we have in Jesus. We are not only given a substitute for our sins, but we are also given a crown of righteousness and authority over the enemies that God defeats for us. We receive the blessing of Christ's victory.

In the end, the nameless child who bears David's sin points to the two names of our Lord. "Jesus" - which means "the Lord saves" and "Christ" - which means, "anointed One." He is both the One who brings us back to God in salvation and defeats the enemies of sin, hell and death.