Israel's greatest king, David won power, lost peace
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"Judged by any standards, the greatest king Israel ever had was David. Anointed by Samuel, he was honored by the Lord," said Elder Thomas S. Monson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve and now first counselor in the First Presidency, in an address at the April 1970 general conference.
"In the first flush of his incredible triumphs, David rode the crest of popularity. As he achieved fresh victories, the women greeted him with a new song: `. . . Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' (1 Sam. 18:7.) In adoration the people exclaimed: `Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.' (2 Sam. 5:1.)"Power he won. Peace he lost.
"It happened one evening when David was walking upon the roof of the king's house that he saw from the roof a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful.
" `And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, . . . the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' So `David sent messengers, and took her. . . .' (2 Sam. 11:3-4.)
"The gross sin of adultery was followed by yet another: `. . . Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.' (2 Sam. 11:15.) Lust and power had triumphed."
President Monson said that David's rebuke came from the God of Israel: " `. . . thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife. . . . Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house. . . . '(2 Sam. 12:9-10.)
"David commenced well the race, then faltered and failed to finish his course."
