“David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.” (Matthew 1:6)

There are some less-than-exemplary people and circumstances found in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1.  One of them is contained in this verse.  Uriah had been one of David’s best warriors — one of his “mighty men.”  So this episode is similar to the old “best friend” adultery type scenario.  What a mess — and yet, God used this “mess” somehow in His purposes, including these people in the genealogy of His Son, who would be the Savior of the world.  

This should be somewhat encouraging to any of us who have “less-than-exemplary” lives.  We can know that God can use our “messes”– and us despite them — as well.
Now, this should definitely NOT be taken as an excuse for us to presumptuously sin, assuming that God will just forgive us and still use us. That would involve a trampling on God’s grace which would be dangerous on many levels.

But the truth is, The Lord DOES somehow, in His providence, cause even our failures to work into His good purposes.  This should be both a comfort to us, and a prod to move forward and attempt some good for His kingdom, whatever the “mess” of our lives has been!