2 Samuel 11-14
We knew it couldn’t last. David had trusted the Lord as a young shepherd, a giant-slayer, a court musician and a warrior. He had been faithful to God’s word, even when the king turned on him, tried to spear him to the wall, and chased him all over the land. Twice, he could have killed that king, and twice he refused to harm the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 26:11). When Saul and Jonathan were killed, he did not strive for power; he waited. First, the tribe of Judah anointed him king; ythen, all the rest. He saw success after success on the field of battle. He conquered Jerusalem and established it as the political and religious center of the kingdom. He successfully defended Israel from all attacks.
And then, one day...
David sent the troops out to fight, and he stayed in Jerusalem. “Idle hands…” the old saying begins. Though he had a number of wives, he lusted for the one belonged to one of his soldiers. He compounded this adultery by arranging the murder of her husband. And he took her for his own.
Two things saved David: 1) He had a friend (Nathan) who was willing to speak God’s truth to him, and 2) he had a heart-felt repentant response of faith. He and Bathsheba lost their first child, but God had regained his child, David, as he returned to the Lord’s house and worshipped (2 Samuel 12:20). When confronted with our sin, may we respond as David did!
Though David was restored, though he and Bathsheba bore another son, Solomon, David’s indiscretion seems to have set loose a sin virus in the royal family. Nothing would be as it was; the innocence was lost. In chapter 13, David’s nephew, Jonadab, encourages David’s son, Amnon, to have his way with his half-sister, David’s daughter, Tamar. Absalom, Tamar’s full brother, bides his time and, after two years, murders his half-brother, Amnon. Absalom flees Jerusalem until everything calms down.
But tomorrow, it will boil over again.
Until then,
Pastor Gary
No comments:
Post a Comment