Restoration from Sin: Lesson from David's Life - Day 139 Through the Bible

One of many rock tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mt. Celo Church and Asheville, NC

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

Watching David Fall - (2 Sam 11 and 12)  It was only yesterday that we looked at David finally crowned king of all Israel and Judah, victorious in battle, rid of his old nemesis Saul, wealthy...at peace...beloved...remembering to honor God and his covenant with Jonathan to do good to the house of Saul.  But here...here is where we find David today...here is where we find so many who were faithful. God's blessings often lead to great falls, especially after a prolonged period in the midst of them.  Poor and alone on the mountains as a shepherd boy, David drew strength and wisdom from God. Hounded...hated...hunted...as God's anointed but not yet king, David drew closer to God in song, soul and spirit.  But now in peace, prosperity, and the pomp and circumstances of royal life, he lets down His guard, turns His eyes from his duty, His God and His law to the world.  Within the downward spiral of sin, David tries to cover his adultery with murder, which leads to the additional deaths of loyal men and his firstborn son.  David, in this deep state of sin, is more concerned with his position and how the world sees him than how God sees him.

My Lessons and Applications: His missteps:  In the spring...when kings go out to battle...David sent Joab, his servants and all Israel to fight Ammon...but David remained at Jerusalem.  Remember 1 Sam 18:16: "All Israel and all Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them."  He was not where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to be doing. Am I?  When God has answered my prayers and the path seems smooth, do I maintain vigilance in obedience to God?  2) In the evening...David arose from his bed...walked on the roof...saw...beheld...inquired...sent...took.  What compounds David's sin is that he knew this woman was the wife of one of his good men.  Still he chose to do evil.  Are there times of the day, places where I am more susceptible to sin?  Do I choose to avoid the places, people that appeal to my sinful nature?  Am I willing to change those situations to not allow temptation to get a foothold and then a stronghold on my life?  Do I use subterfuge and lies to cover my sin from a sinful world, forgetting: "nothing is hidden from the Lord"; "be sure your sins will find you out."

Watching David Recover - God sends His word through Nathan, the prophet, to reveal David's sinful soul to himself.  Here is where David begins to extract himself from the downward spiral. He listens to God's severe chastisement (2 Sam 11:7-12).  He confesses His sin against the LORD.  The Lord grants mercy to David:  "The LORD also has put away your sin, you shall not die."  BUT, there are still consequences.  David's secret sin will have public consequences before all Israel.  David pleads (intense and prolonged prayer) with God for the child (not himself), fasts (refuses all food), will not get up off the ground (prostrating himself before God.)  God does not relent with the punishment.  When the child is dead, David gets up off the ground, washes, anoints himself, and goes into the house of the Lord and worships.  He then goes to comfort Bathsheba and is blessed with his son, Solomon, whom the LORD loves.

My Lessons and Applications:  David (like Paul, with his continued prayers regarding removal of the "thorn in his side") knew when God had answered his prayers - not the way he had hoped - but they were God's answers.  David has put His life back into God's hands.  His eyes are off of himself, His focus is back on God, on comforting his wife, back to his duty, back to the battlefield as king of Israel.
Am I as humble as David in my sin...to confess...repent...turn away from the iniquity and back to God...in worship...in prayer...for others...back to my God-given work...in submission to God's will?  Do I listen to God's Word?  Am I convicted and changed by it?

Unsung Heroes of the Faith - Uriah and Naboth (1 Kings 21) - Uriah refuses the comfort of his wife, his home, drink and food while God (the ark), Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents in open fields at war.  David gets him drunk (!) and tries to force him to sleep with his wife, so David's sin will be covered, but Uriah refuses to dishonor God and Israel.  He is murdered for this.  Naboth loses his life in refusing to disobey God's command to not sell his inheritance.

Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6) - It is an interesting life observation to me that so many people who do not believe in Jesus spend an inordinate amount of their lives consumed with feasting and drinking.  I often wonder if this is an attempt to fill the void that Jesus speaks of in John 6:35:  I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."  When the life is not filled with Jesus, it seems obsessively gluttonous for food or things that never satisfy - material possessions, work. "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him (6:27)   They can't conceive of this.  "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? (3:28)  This is the work of God, that you may believe on Him whom He sent...This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.