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DAVID REPENTED AND BORE THE CONSEQUENCES
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
2 Samuel 12

Psalm 51:1-10

 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me.”

 

DAVID REPENTED AND BORE THE CONSEQUENCES
 
In his response to Nathan’s parable, the king sentenced himself. Nathan added that the sword would not depart from David’s house, i.e. more would die in the house of David by the sword. Scripture further records that he transgressed in secret, but his punishment would be public.
 
David had to live with those consequences the rest of his life. This had to come to him because every sin is punishable. Secondly, justice must be done to the offended party. David responded with a repentant attitude. He listened to Nathan and knew that his message was from the Lord. He acknowledged that he had sinned against God. Nathan assured him that he was forgiven and was not going to die. This was the mind of the Lord revealed to David, and was no doubt what he wished to hear.
 
David realised the extent of his sin and was repentant. He prayed to God and wrote his psalm of repentance. The title of the psalm gives its background. This is Psalm 51 with the following introduction: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” He begged God for mercy as he expressed his repentance.
 
David expressed his thoughts and feelings truthfully, and used the best language he could muster up to prove the truthfulness of his expressions. However, since sin has consequences, he had to bear them. It came because his actions had caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme God. These consequences began with a sickness and the death of the child that was born of Bathsheba. It was a painful time and David expressed his emotions in vivid language. When the child was sick, he prayed and fasted and was greatly grieved. He regarded not his servants’ intreating, and earnestly desired that the child would live. However, the Lord had determined the fate of the child.
 
THOUGHT: When in great trouble, God’s grace is the best for me.

PRAYER: Father, let me never lose confidence in Thee.

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