Today’s Tasting: 2 Samuel 11–12; I Chronicles 20: King David should have been with his men, away at war, but instead he was at home in his palace. One night, as he walks on his rooftop he sees a beautiful woman bathing on the rooftop of another building. He sends someone to find out who she is. The word comes back that she is Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, the Hittite. Uriah is one of David’s soldiers, who is away at war. David sends messengers to bring her to him. He makes love to her and she becomes pregnant.
To cover up his sin, David brings Uriah back from the battle and sends him home, but instead of going home to sleep with his wife, he sleeps outside the king’s house with the servants. David tries again by getting Uriah drunk but again he sleeps in the servant’s area. So, David sends him back to the war front with a sealed letter telling the commander to place Uriah on the front line and when the battle heats up, to withdraw from him so that he is killed. The commander, Joab, follows the king’s instructions and Uriah is killed. After a period of mourning, he brings Bathsheba to the palace as his wife.
God sends the prophet Nathan to confront King David about his sinful actions. David admits his sin before God, and Nathan declares the consequence of David’s sin: In addition to conflict in his household he will lose the son that Bathsheba bore him. When the baby grew ill, David fasted and pleaded with God for the child’s life. But the baby dies and David ends his fasting, goes to the temple, and worships God. Then, he comforts his wife Bathsheba and she becomes pregnant and bears him another son, whom they name Solomon, meaning “peaceable.” God sends word through Nathan, the prophet, that the boy’s name shall be called Jedidiah, which means “loved by the Lord.” David returns to the battlefield where, as king, he belongs.
Todays Nourishment: God knows our lives, our hearts, and our motivations, whether our actions are right or wrong. He knows when we get off track and of course He knows when we sin against him, before we ever do it. We are no better than David, who the Scripture calls a man after God’s own heart. We can learn these personal lessons from David’s experience:
1) We must acknowledge our sin against the Lord and confess them before Him (2 Samuel 12:13).
2) Our sinful actions show utter contempt for the Lord. Although He will forgive us there will always be consequences for our sinful actions (2 Samuel 12:13–14).
3) We must get into the presence of God and worship Him (2 Samuel 12:20).
4) We believe God can cause good to come from the bad when our hearts are right before Him (2 Samuel 12:24–25).
5) If you have sinned against the Lord, repented and taken steps to make it right, then get back on track, doing what you know to be right. Follow the path that God has ordained for you at this time in your life, and He will give you victory (2 Samuel 12:28–31).
God, please show me where I am off track. Show me where I have sinned against you and help me to come clean to you. Guide me as I work through this cleansing process. Show me your heart for me and your direction for me. Strengthen me as I walk through the consequences of my actions and place me back on the path that you have ordained for me to walk. I worship you in your holiness, your wisdom, and your love. Reveal these to me in a greater way that I may walk in them daily. It is in the name and power of Jesus that I ask these things. Amen.
Join the conversation as we pray together:
Tomorrow’s Tasting: Psalms 32, 51, 86, and 122
June Smith
San Antonio, TX
mjunesmith@gmail.com
As we all know His grace and mercy abounds in and through us when we have repented hearts before Him. This was a great word and a great reminder of the consequences of sin. Yes God is merciful when we make it right with Him but there is consequence. Thank You Lord for Your goodness through forgiveness that You love us enough to give us that chance to make things right in our heart before You. Guide us Father in Your light on the right path of righteousness. Your an awesome God and I love You and thank You for forgiving me and pointing me in the right direction.
Lord, point me in a direction to go and give me identity. I pray that I will not think of old rhythms of the past, but I will design rhythms of grace that take me beyond my potential. Help me to put on the Lord Jesus Christ in my thinking. I relinquish my old ways and rely on you today. Praise God!
Amen! Thank you ladies for your inspired words. God is such a good God, loving and kind. We get caught up in her own daily lives in our own issues and things sometimes spiral out of control. Living by the word of God and keeping a relationship with him in first priority helps to keep us on track. Bless you both as you go through your day.
Bless you too, June. I hope your day and weekend are Christ-full.