Friday July 23
“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love.”      Ecc 9:9 NKJV
Marriage Rights (3)

After the death of the child David fathered with Bathsheba, we read, “Then David got up…washed himself…changed his clothes…went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and…ate. His advisers were amazed. ‘We don’t understand you,’ they told him. ‘While the [baby] was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the [baby] is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again’” (2Sa 12:20-21 NLT). Why did David mourn more intensely before the baby died than he did after? Because men grieve hard, but not necessarily as long. Once something’s over, they’ve a tendency to move on. This can cause problems. Often men genuinely don’t understand why their wives can’t accept that “what’s done is done,” and move on too. Listen to David’s logic: “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me” (2Sa 12:22-23 NLT). The Bible says God “comforts us…so that…When [others] are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort” (2Co 1:4 NLT). David’s next move was crucial. He “comforted Bathsheba, his wife” (2Sa 12:24 NLT). Notice, David didn’t ask, “What’s wrong with you? When are you going to get over this?” He recognized that even though he was beginning to heal, his wife was still hurting. The healing process accelerates once you begin to empathize with, and comfort your mate.