2 Samuel 11 & 12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 51
I’ve always found it interesting that this story is not
in Chronicles.
David living life with God’s favour.
David the shepherd of God’s people.
2 Samuel 11 tells the detailed story of David and
Bathsheba and detailed correspondence between Joab and David regarding
Uriah. David calculating and measuring
and covering up. About proper
mourning. And then marriage.
Under all the posturing and words.
The bottom line.
2 Sam 11:27”… the thing David had done displeased the
LORD. “
2 Samuel 12 is the story of Nathan confronting David about
what he has done. The story of a rich
man, taking the sweet lamb, the only love from the poor man. David taking the
life of a man, for his own gain. The story about David’s little son and his
pleading and fasting and laying on the ground over this little life. But it was not to be. And there are many other things that
subsequently happen in David’s life because of this event. (vs 10 “…therefore
the sword will never depart from your house.)
Before the chapter is out David confesses his sin and he
repents, so very different from Saul. Saul deflected, David repented. And Nathan tells of the LORD’s
forgiveness. But David does not escape
the consequences of his choices and actions.
We read about the very depths of David’s heart in Psalm
51. A psalm of conviction and
guilt. Of humility and a repentant
posture. Of renewal, change, cleansing, and growth. Forgiveness. This amazing thing that is only possible with
the Grace work of God.
Ps 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart O GOD,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your Presence
Or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me
The joy of your salvation
And grant me a willing spirit
To sustain me.”
David walks the path of regret and of shame and of loss.
And the reality of walking without God’s favour is more
than he can imagine.
And he mourns that alternative.
He feels this sorrow as deeply as feels the joy of life
with God.
David and Bathsheba mourn the loss of their son.
This very real consequence but they also find
comfort.
And forgiveness.
And they get on with their lives.
And have another son, Solomon.
2 Sam 12: 24 “The LORD loved him, and because the LORD
loved him, He sent word through Nathan, the prophet to name him Jedidiah –‘
loved by the LORD’. “
In the grand scheme of things God longs for us to walk
with him. To have fellowship and relationship. And that nothing should come
between us. The reality of it is so
often something does come between us that affects our communion with God.
But that’s never the end of the story. Our story.
God’s Story.
In the grand scheme, when we walk humbly with our God, repent
and ask for forgiveness, God longs to give it.
Made possible by the sacrifice once and for all in Jesus. The
consequence may always live with us, but we would have our relationship with
God restored, and continue to serve Him and receive His blessing. His abundance and plenty. Called out of wilderness and wandering back
to the quiet waters and green pastures.
Milk and honey.
This gritty spot.
It’s so messy.
Owning your wrongs.
Feeling the full weight of them.
Who wants to even feel that?
That broken heart feeling.
At this house, I read Psalm 51 in the morning.
And then it came around again during our evening supper
devos.
The same reading twice.
You know what they say….
If you hear it twice or more it must be something you are
meant to hear.
I missed it earlier.
That David was the recipient of the greatest things he
needed.
Mercy.
And Grace.
With God there is turning back.
With God there are second chances.
Opportunities for do overs.
So crucial to our stories!
Grace. Over so
many errors of our ways.
And showing Grace and Mercy to others.
Passing it on.
“ May the peace that You give
Change the way that we live. “
These encounters with the Living God.
In Whose Glorious Presence we could never stand.
And yet.
He washes our robes whiter than snow.
And changes the way that we live.
No comments:
Post a Comment