Some are complicated and some are simple, but even small and seemingly insignificant decisions can have large and long-lasting consequences. The story of David and Bathsheba in second Samuel, conveys the theme of responsibility of decisions. Many people make actions based on their own interests. Their wants and desired overwhelm their ability to see the consequences of their actions. David realized this after God told him that his son through Bathsheba would not live. David's sense of right and wrong became diminished by his desire for Bathsheba. It is part of human nature to covet the things of desire. Acknowledging the consequences of actions allows for the capacity to resist and to grow as a person.
David first realizes that he has committed a sin when Nathan comes to him with the story of the sheep. "So he took the female lamb of the man of little means and got it ready for the man that had come in to him."# David said to Nathan that this person should be killed. Nathan then said unto him that you are that man. David is shocked by the response, especially since he said that man should die. The true morals of David are shown by his response to the story by Nathan. However David became overwhelmed by his human desire which over conquered his morals at the time. Nathan's story helps him to realize the severity of his actions.
David realizing his mistakes attempted to cover it up by sending Uriah home. He hoped that he would have relations with his wife, which would cover up her pregnancy. Uriah however did not want to reward himself with a break from battle while the other soldiers were still fighting. David then decided to send Uriah to the front line in attempts that he would get killed. These attempts by David show that he was aware of his mistakes but thought he could fix them by doing more wrong. His moral ethics were abandoned by the fear that he would be caught by the people. When the news that Uriah had been killed came through David thought that he had gotten away with the mistakes that he had made.