IT CAN BE tempting to skip over the Bible’s “begat” genealogy lists to get to the good parts of the story, but there’s some treasure to be unearthed if we will pause and look.

Take just one of the entries in the list of names that traces Jesus’ line back to Abraham, in the Gospel of Matthew. Verse 6 notes that “David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.”

Well, actually, yes and no. Solomon was born to David and Bathsheba after they had married. Solomon’s mother had been Uriah’s wife but was now his widow. So why does Matthew record it this way?

After all, it highlights that sordid episode in David’s life, when he coveted someone else’s wife. The whole encounter with Bathsheba wreaks of manipulation at least, coercion at worst. Then, when David finds out Bathsheba is pregnant, he tries to wriggle out of it by bringing Uriah back from military service to spend time with his wife.

When Uriah’s honor precludes him from doing so, David arranges for him to be killed in battle. The man “after God’s own heart” is tangled in immorality and killing.

Why does Matthew draw attention to this in his opening narrative? After all, it’s not a very savory narrative to include in Jesus’ family line. Not very holy.

And that’s precisely the point. By reminding us of David’s grievous sin, God is saying:

• Whatever you have done, there is a place for you in God’s family.
•   Whatever you have done, you have a part to play in God’s story.
•   Whatever you have done, you have a purpose in God’s great mission.

David’s inclusion in this genealogy should be an encouragement to all of us, no matter how far we may have strayed or how far we may have fallen.  It reminds us that the good news, as Tim Keller once said, “is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time.”

All we need to do is pray with David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you” (Psalm 51:10-13).