Many a wrongdoer has excused his own sin by pointing to David's fall, but how few there are who manifest David's penitence and humility. How few would bear reproof and retribution with the patience and fortitude that he manifested. He had confessed his sin, and for years had sought to do his duty as a faithful servant of God; he had labored for the upbuilding of his kingdom, and under his rule it had attained to strength and prosperity never reached before. He had gathered rich stores of material for the building of the house of God, and now was all the labor of his life to be swept away? Must the results of years of consecrated toil, the work of genius and devotion and statesmanship, pass into the hands of his reckless and traitorous son, who regarded not the honor of God nor the prosperity of 738 Israel? How natural it would have seemed for David to murmur against God in this great affliction!

Mange mennesker har benyttet Davids fald som en undskyldning for deres egne synder, men hvor er der få, der angrer og ydmyger sig ligesom David. Kun de færreste ville bære deres irettesættelse og straf med en sådan tålmodighed og sjælsstyrke, som han lagde for dagen. Han havde bekendt sin synd og havde i årevis bestræbt sig på at gøre sin pligt som Guds trofaste tjener. Han havde arbejdet på at opbygge sit rige, og under hans regering havde det opnået en fremgang og en styrke som aldrig før. Han havde samlet store mængder af materialer, som skulle benyttes til at opføre Guds hus. Skulle hele hans livsværk nu fejes bort? Skulle frugterne af mange års trofast slid - resultater, som var opnået ved genialitet, trofasthed og statsmandskunst - nu tilfalde hans ryggesløse, forræderiske søn, som hverken havde Guds ære eller folkets ve og vel for øje? Hvor havde det været nærliggende for David at knurre imod Gud under denne store prøvelse.