Heretofore God's providence had preserved David against all the plottings of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul. But David's transgression had changed his relation to God. The Lord could not in any wise sanction iniquity. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as he had protected him from the enmity of Saul.

Hidtil havde Gud skånet David for at blive et bytte for fjendernes onde planer og grebet direkte ind for at hindre Saul i at dræbe ham; men da David syndede, ændredes hans forhold til Gud. Gud kunne ikke billige synden. Han kunne ikke udøve sin magt for at beskytte David imod følgerne af hans egen synd på samme måde, som han havde værnet ham imod Sauls fjendskab.