"by the wife of Uriah," - Matthew 1:6c

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, King David remained in Jerusalem and sent Joab out instead with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites (2 Samuel 11:1).

Now David had many wives and was the father of many sons and daughters (1 Chronicles 14:3). He was promised by God, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16),” foretelling of the coming Savior, promised in Genesis 3:15, through David’s line. God would go on to carry out this promise through David’s son, Solomon, by the wife of Uriah. 

Uriah was a faithful solider who at this time was on the battlefield where he was supposed to be. His wife Bathsheba, however, remained in Jerusalem. David, after abandoning his purpose on the battlefield with his men, would go on to deliberately sin by focusing on his own desires and turning towards temptation instead of fleeing from it. He would commit adultery with Uriah’s wife and attempt to deceive others by covering it up. When all attempts failed, he would ultimately commit murder to continue this cover-up. Eventually, by God’s grace, David’s sin was exposed. David confessed and repented of his sin, and the Lord put away his sin (2 Samuel 12:13).  However, David's sin was not without consequences - his first son by Uriah’s wife would be struck by God, become ill, and die. Yet, God would go on to keep His covenant with David by making this promise about David’s second son by Uriah’s wife, Solomon, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever (1 Chronicles 22:10),” showing us that the coming Savior would come from Solomon’s line. 

Consider that David had many wives and was the father of many sons. Yet, God in his great wisdom chose to keep His promise to David and continue the lineage of King Jesus through his son Solomon, by the wife of Uriah. That phrase, ‘by the wife of Uriah,’ forever serves as a reminder of a few things.  First, it is a reminder that God is just – there is always a consequence for sin.  Second, it is a reminder that God is merciful, as evidenced by God’s persistent grace and faithfulness to David and his family.  Third, while God may refer to David as ‘a man after his own heart,’ (1 Samuel 13:14), David was far from perfect. King David needed saving. Praise the Lord who is holy and just, who is merciful and faithful, and praise the Lord for the many examples of imperfect people in the lineage of King Jesus - the only Perfect King.