The Death of an Infant

Despite David’s fasting, worship, and intense intercession, the child lie fathered with Bathsheba dies, either seven days after its birth or after seven days of illness. This turn of events sparks a crisis of sorts in David’s household—his servants are uncertain of how to break the news to him. They fear that since the child’s illness drove David to severe self-denial, his death may provoke the king to harm himself in some way. But before they can decide on a solution, David notices their whispering and perceives that something has happened—and it can be only one thing. So he inquires as to whether the child is dead, and is told that he is.

David reacts surprisingly calmly to this news. First, he gets up from his position of supplication. Then he washes himself and changes his clothes. Next he goes to the tabernacle to worship. Finally, returning to his home, he breaks his fast. Baffled, the servants ask why David has changed his behavior so radically upon the death of the child. His answer is simple: While the child remained alive, he fasted, wept, and prayed to God, for there was still a chance that God might relent and show grace by letting the child live. But now God has carried out His judgment, and David knows that God’s judgment cannot be reversed. God has said no to his prayer, and David accepts that providence.

David concludes his explanation with these intriguing words: “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” On the surface, he is simply saying that he will join the child in the grave, but the child will not return to life. But is he saying more? Some have concluded that David is saying that the child has gone where he himself will go—to God’s presence in heaven—and use this passage to argue that all children who die in infancy are saved. However, it is inappropriate to build a doctrine of the universal salvation of dying infants on this passage. Scripture tells us that salvation rests on the electing work of God; it is the elect who are saved, whether they die in infancy or old age. Of course, it is impossible to know whether an infant is among the elect, which causes great heartache among Christian parents who lose children. But Christians have grounds to hope for the salvation of their infant children who die, for Scripture declares that “the promise is to you and to your children” (Acts 2:39; see also the verses below).