Mighty King David, the David that had slain his 10,000's, the David that the LORD gave victory in battle after battle, the David whom the LORD provided with military strategy to defeat Israel's enemies, this mighty warrior King has fallen...not in battle, but morally. Apparently, David could have had as many wives as he desired, but that was not sufficient and King David fails with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba. Beyond this failure, David attempts to cover his sin, a sin that should cost him his life! Was was the Word of the Lord given to Moses, the Word that David knew well? Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery. Leviticus 20:10 ‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Deut 5:18 ‘You shall not commit adultery. What do the Proverbs have to say about the man who commits adultery? Proverbs 6:32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.
2 Sa 12:7-15 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die.” 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife.
Here is good news and bad news! What is the good news for David, he is forgiven, he will not die for this sin! This is amazing, he should have been put to death, stoned for committing adultery and yet he is spared, more importantly he does not go to hell for his sin, he is able to continue in his relationship with the LORD GOD! What is the bad news...the bad news will unfold before us over the next several chapters.
DAVID IS FORGIVEN, BUT THERE ARE STILL CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOW HIS SIN! THIS IS CRITICIAL FOR YOU AND I TO UNDERSTAND! YES WE ARE FORGIVEN, IF WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND REPENT OF OUR SIN, BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. What does Paul teach us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 6:7-8? "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." YOU WILL, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW! Yes, praise God, there is forgiveness, but you still reap what you sow. What did we learn in Numbers 32:23? "But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."
Make no mistake, it is wonderful, glorious and beautiful news to KNOW THAT "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Eph. 1:7. I am afraid that too often people believe that forgiveness removes the consequences in this life. It does remove eternal damnation, but when a child of God sins, as we will, it opens a door, it gives the devil a toe hold...be afraid, be very afraid!
Job 28:28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Ps 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Prov 15:33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.
Father in heaven,
Enable me by YOUR indwelling Spirit to walk in obedience moment by moment to YOUR Word as given through the prophet Micah in Micah 6:8 "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"
Work this for YOUR glory and my JOY in YOU!
love,
m