When we hear the name David, two stories generally come to mind: Goliath and Bathsheba. Because these are the two stories that David is most known for, we the reader tend to equate David's early life as successful, courageous, and God-led, and his later life as sinful, disobedient, and self-led.
I wanted to get a clearer picture of David's life, so I read his story in full once again, and what I saw was a man who constantly inquired of the Lord and even on his death bed was passing down the blessings of God to his son and trusting in God's promises. Personally, that doesn't sound like someone who is distant from God or lacking in faith.
So, how does the story of David and Bathsheba fit in? To find out, I went back to the story and paid careful attention to what happened. Here is a summary of what I found:
Truthfully, the story of David and Bathsheba is a horrible one involving multiple sins. Not only did David commit adultery and then have someone murdered, but he carefully planned every action and did it all for very selfish reasons. This wasn't just a spur of the moment, sneak-up-on-him kind of sin. This was a long and planned-out set of sins that David thought over and carefully orchestrated to cover up his actions. Not a great example of a man living in obedience to God.
Of course, God saw all that David did and intervened, opening David's eyes to his own sin. Through a parable, God was able to show David his true role in the story, his own sin, and the punishment he deserved because of it.
But this isn't the whole story, and there is so much more to learn from it!
It is important to notice David's reaction upon realizing the truth of the parable. Immediately after being confronted by and understanding the truth , David admits his sin and repents.
'Then David said, "I have sinned against the Lord."' - 2 Samuel 12:13.
Notice David doesn't say "I have sinned against Uriah" or "I have sinned against Bathsheba" or "I have sinned against Israel." No, his first thought is: "I have sinned against the Lord." This is clearly an intimate reaction by a man who is repentant and ashamed of disobeying the God that he loves.
Even more startling than the speed of David's repenctance is the immediacy of God's forgiveness.
"Nathan replied, 'The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.'" - 2 Samuel 12: 13.
The minute that David takes responsibility for his sin and repents, God's forgiveness is present. The depth of it is amazing!
Not to say that God does not discipline David for his sin. There are consequences that David must face despite God's forgiveness, and he faces them soon after; his newborn son dies 7 days after birth.
This is important to note and remember. God is one of forgiveness AND discipline. He desires us to be free from our sin, but he also desires us to learn from it and become better. How does that understanding come about? Consequences. God does not desire for us to be weighed down by guilt, but He does require us to deal with the choices we have made and the circumstances that arise because of them. God does not promise us a life without hardship, but a life of inner peace. His forgiveness offers us this, and his discipline reminds us to make better choices in the future.
Of course, David's story does not stop with discipline. God's stories never do. God, above all, is a God of redemption. Is not redemption the very reason that Christ walked this earth and died on a cross? That we might be redeemed from our sin? Yes, God is a God of great and powerful redemption, and he reminds us of it in the conclusion of this story. Bathsheba gives birth to another son, who eventually grows into a great and mighty king, respected and revered throughout the nations for his wisdom. What amazing redemption!
If you take nothing else from this, Take heart, friend, that God's story ALWAYS ends in redemption. Even now, we know that God's GREATEST story, the story of His son, the story of our great Rabbi, the story of our freedom from sin, has already ended in redemption.
"He is not here, He has risen! Just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay." - Matthew 28: 6
2 comments:
Hey, sometimes I what my Bathsheba is or what it could be. I feel like it might be money, and how i desire security from it. Sometimes I think that if I live my whole life in such a way that i save and store, store away, somehow it will all be lost. I get mixed up between what is stewardship and what is idolatry. Please continue to pray for my REDEMPTION.
Fisher
I will. And I hope that you remember that part of the redemption of God is that He keeps coming back every morning, every moment, to teach us how to overcome the things we struggle with. If you never totally conquer the money issue in your life, you are still experiencing God's redemption, because He is battling it with you, EVERY DAY. He offers His redemption by not giving up on us. His "compassions fail not, they are new EVERY MORNING. Great is His faithfulness" to us. (Lam. 3: 22-23)
Also, remember that our daily struggles make us mature in our faith. "But solid food is for the mature, who by CONSTANT USE have TRAINED themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:14). The more you struggle, the more you learn and grow and understand how to recognize your own weaknesses the next time. It is through these times that we learned to discern the spirit's voice and recognize our own weaknesses.
Lastly, and most importantly, Fisher, God is strengthening you and reminding you of your need for HIS strength, and shaping and cutting you into the rock He needs for His temple through hard things like money. :) Bless Him for that!
He is faithful to the end!
"Do not be afraid...the LORD your God himself will fight for you" (Duet. 3:22).
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