2 Samuel_12
Scripture
2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
Observation
David has just committed a horrible sin against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Nathan, the prophet, confronts David and reveals that the Lord is so hurt by what he did. David, a man after God’s own heart, has done a terrible thing and now brings consequences against his whole family for years to come.
Understanding
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Here is David, a man slaying giants and leading armies. At one point he had Saul in his perfect view to kill him, instead. David would not touch God’s anointed. God gave him more than he could have dreamed and would have given even more had he asked. He spoke of Davids future for his family promising to establish his throne and build a temple with his son.
After all we read about him I seriously thought...this guy is it! He has got this God thing down. He does so many things right, he has amazing faith, he wrote all these Psalms, of course God chose his line to send his Son to us!
2 Samuel 12:9 Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own.
David!!!! Noooooo! Heartbreaking.
Then God speaks through Nathan and issues a judgement on David and his family. Then he pays the price for his sin, the loss of his son. David humbled himself as he always did, fasted and lied on the floor for seven days. After the consequence had been fulfilled David got up, got dressed, and ate. He had to move forward with being king.
Application
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I have never committed the exact sin that David did but one thing for sure… I have fallen super short of the glory of God on many occasions. Humility and gratitude will always be the right response but then we need to get up, get dressed, and move on. Sometimes we like to sit in our dirt and feel sorry for ourselves that we are such wretched losers and we stop moving.
God forgives us through Jesus and we need to accept it and move on. Father, thank you for loving and forgiving me even though I clearly don’t deserve it. Holy Spirit help me to live out my life as Jesus did, receive forgiveness from our Father, and empower me to move forward in the path God has paved for me. In Jesus name Amen!
Deborah Lee