Then said his seruants vnto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weepe for the childe, while it was aliue, but when the childe was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 2 Samuel 12:21 (KJV)
The verse occurs within the tragic narrative of King David, Bathsheba, and the death of their first child. Earlier chapters record David’s sin with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. While remaining in Jerusalem instead of going to war, David saw Bathsheba bathing, desired her, and committed adultery. When she became pregnant, David attempted to conceal the offense by recalling Uriah from the battlefield, hoping he would sleep with his own wife. Uriah’s loyalty prevented this, and David then arranged for Uriah’s death in combat. After Uriah’s demise, Bathsheba became David’s wife, and they bore a son.
God, displeased with David’s actions, sent the prophet Nathan to confront the king. Nathan delivered a stern rebuke, pronouncing judgment, and David responded with genuine repentance. The Lord allowed the child to become ill as part of the judgment. While the child was still alive, David fasted and wept, hoping that prayer might restore the child’s life. When the child finally died, David’s servants observed a stark change: he rose, ate bread, and resumed ordinary activity. They asked, “What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.”
This contrast highlights David’s deep grief and his subsequent acceptance of God’s sovereign will. The passage teaches that human effort, including fervent fasting and prayer, cannot overturn divine judgment once it has been pronounced. Yet David’s shift from mourning to ordinary conduct reflects a trust in God’s sovereignty and a willingness to submit to His plan, even in the midst of profound sorrow. The verse therefore underscores the limits of human power, the importance of surrendering to God’s will, and the enduring lesson that true faith embraces both prayerful petition and humble acceptance of God’s determinations.
