"Sin's Horror" March 26 Readings: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 32, 51

Today's Reading - 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalm 32, 51

Background

Today's reading is well-known. David and Bath-sheba. A good man does a bad thing. Books could be (and have been) written about this story. The repentance in Psalm 51 is powerful and exemplary.

Devotional - Sin's Horror 

2 Samuel 11 is the turning point of the book. In chapters 1-10, David experiences one blessing and one victory after another. From chapter 12 on, David's life is filled with heartbreak, challenges, and tragedy in both his family and in his nation. Of course, in chapter 11, the "man after God's heart" wanders away from God and into sin - his infamous sin with Bathsheba.

There are several things we can see in this chapter that can give us some insight into David's sin and failure.

1) David stayed home during "the spring when kings march out to war." Of course, sin can blindside us anytime, but when we are in retreat mode, when we are not serving God and do what he has called us to do we make ourselves more susceptible to temptation.

2) All sexual sin boils down to one moment. David spied the beautiful Bathsheba from his palace and he had a choice. He could do the right thing and turn his back on another man's wife. Or, he could choose to take that one step down the path of adultery from which there is seldom a return. He made the wrong choice and sent for Bathsheba.

3) Sin has consequences. This one certainly did; a baby was going to be born. Not all sin has consequences as dramatic and public as this one, but all sin brings undesirable consequences into our lives. When you make the choice to sin, you can be sure that the consequences will come.

4) Sinners generally try to hide the sin instead of dealing with it. David did. He tried to orchestrate events so that he would escape detection and no one would find out about his sin.

5) The attempt at covering sin usually leads to worse sin. David committed adultery. In attempting to cover up the adultery, he ended up being responsible for the killing of a good and honorable man. Rather than repent, he doubled down on his wickedness.

6) As we know from Psalm 51, there is only one way to actually deal with sin. David eventually repented of his sin and was forgiven (thought the consequences continued the rest of his life). Covering sin only makes it worse. God forgives and restores the repentant.

7) We learn in 2 Samuel 12 that God brings conviction of sin. He sent the prophet Nathan to point the finger at David and to say to him, "you are the man." Nathan told him the story of the man with the many sheep who stole his neighbor's only one. In his self-righteous superiority, David was incensed until Nathan pulled back the curtain and bared it all before him. There was no more artifice or denial. His guilt was laid bare before God.

8) The worst of all the truths is found both in chapter 12 and throughout the rest of 2 Samuel. His son, born of this unholy union, would not survive (12:14). In addition, the “sword shall never depart from your house,” Nathan told him (12:10) and evil would rise up against the house of David, one previously blessed by God in a way unique in human history. All because of David’s sin.

Here is what is so scary. The consequences of David’s sin was felt mostly in the lives of his children and his grandchildren. The rest of 2 Samuel tells stories of how one of David’s son raped one of his daughters, how another brother killed the one who committed the vile deed, then led a rebellion against his father. The consequences of David’s sin did not simply fall on him but on his family.

The Bible is clear that we are each held responsible for our own sins and that no one is punished for his parents’ sins. But the Bible is also clear that consequences fall on sinners and those consequences often affect generations to come as much as they do the person who committed the sin.

David was going to pass down to his descendants a great and godly heritage, but he spoiled that with his sin and cast a dark shadow on his own family.The "man after God's own heart" let his heart stray and caused untold grief for himself and his family. 

Father, help me to finish well the race you have marked out for me, to run with perseverance and to continue with fidelity. May my family be able to see me as an example of your grace, not a emblem of shame. 

Think and Pray

Do you deal forthrightly with your sin?