The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day four) 

It was a thinly veiled story…but David took it hook, line, and sinker!  He never recognized the point of the story until Nathan sprang the trap…”You are the man!”  David had been quick to condemn the rich man in Nathan’s story, but he had completely glossed over his own guilt with Uriah and Bathsheba.  Everyone recognized David’s guilt but himself.

Aren’t we like that, often?  It is easy for us to condemn others for their jealousy, or their hypocrisy, or their lack of compassion, but we fail to see our own iniquity and sin.  Our sinful hearts can so quickly absolve our own motives and actions, while at the same time condemning others for their actions.  Christ taught us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:41-42) to deal with the log in our own eye before we try to remove the speck in our brother’s eye.  Good instruction!  Hard to do, but profitable to practice.

Re: Verse reading—2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day three)

“By doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt.”

The enemies of Israel—who were also the enemies of the Lord as he worked in, and in behalf of, the nation—already held Israel in disdain. There was also always a possibility, though, that these enemies would come to see and fear and obey God. The larger vision of the Old Testament often gives voice to this hope. Now with David’s actions, the future just got that much less hopeful. Of all people, David stood in position to open doors, but he could just as easily shut them. He did exactly that, and this grieved God, much like it grieved Jesus centuries later to witness the Pharisees’ continual shutting of the door of the kingdom in men’s faces. Slamming doors rouse God’s anger.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 12:1-23 (day two) 

…and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! vs. 8b

It is not uncommon to want what we don’t have. Sometimes it’s money, power, prestige. Other times it can be more practical wants like spouse, family, career. It’s the what happens next that defines our where our heart and devotion truly are. Do we act impulsively? Do we assume that we are supposed to have it and then try secretly to get it (ie David)? Do we lay it before the Lord who gives all gifts? I don’t think the Lord would have honored David’s request for another man’s wife, but it would have brought to light the desire which could have been dealt with properly. But there are times when God says yes, the issue is getting in front of God. How often is this a theme in scripture? It happened to David’s predecessor, Saul. He was impatient and acted impulsively, and it cost him dearly. We would do well to be mindful of all desires that come before us. Regardless of God’s answer, talking with him before acting is always the best course of action.

 

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day seven)

Studying 2 Samuel 11 this week I found myself going to 1 Corinthians 10:13 often:

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

This is a verse you should have memorized and use as your lifeboat in the raging sea of temptation. Two truths are revealed here that keep us steady and safe though the world is tossed to and fro.  1. All temptation is common.  No matter what you face many before you have endured the same struggle, and God is never surprised by the situation you find yourself in.  2. There is a way of escape at the hand of God.  You can say “no”, you can make it out, you can overcome, but only by the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day six)

David’s fall into tragedy did not happen overnight. It took time. It was a steady, but slow decline into spiritually lethargy and indifference. See how far David had come; it is not until he is confronted by Nathan that he smells the decaying stench of his sin. Not in a million years could he have imagined how far he would fall.

The small things tend to add up. An inch here, a couple there, a small detour over there; at first you can’t notice but soon the decline really begins to show itself, and it is only after you are forced to take a step back and look that you see just how far you have fallen.

That’s why Paul encourages us, “Run as if to when the prize,” or “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” In the Christian life lethargy is not an option; it’s deadly.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day five)

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle… But David stayed at Jerusalem.

David’s perspective had changed. His willingness to get the counsel of the Lord was gone. His perception and actions towards others was dramatically different (remember chapter 8, David administered justice and righteousness for all his people). David was leading in an unhealthy way- inward and selfish motivations.  The result was weakness and vulnerability to sin when temptations were encountered.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned about leadership. As a parent, spouse, supervisor, pastor, teacher, deacon, employer etc. – we must learn and desire to always lead for the glory of God and the good of others. That is a worthy task and perspective.  David has lost this perspective. “When leaders begin to view their leadership in terms of status rather than in terms of task, it is more than likely that they will begin to fail at the task and therefore to cease, in any meaningful sense, to be leaders”- Mary J Evans

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day four)

What was David thinking?  He knew God’s laws.  He knew it was wrong to lay with another man’s wife.  Levitical law called for them both to be executed.  David was the king though and he thought he might get away with his sin.  Uh-ohh…David is found out…God knew all along.

We learn through David the power of repentance.  David responds correctly in contrition when Nathan confronts him with his sin.  (Chapter 12)  Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance following his sin.  Further evidence of God’s forgiveness is seen later as Bathsheba takes her place in the lineage of Christ Jesus.  (Consequence is realized, but forgiveness is given.)

We are all sinners.  We fall short of God’s plan and commands.  Sin and judgement are what result following our fall.  What happens following our sin is determined by our response to our failure.  Do we cover up our sin?  Do we ignore our sin?  Or, do we repent in humility before God?  David found forgiveness…so can we.  It is all a matter of our heart’s response!

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day three)

“Say this to encourage Joab.”

In bravery and artistry and ability to inspire loyalty, David literally ruled. His possession of such characteristics makes his abuse of those qualities that much more depressing. The sense of the scripture is that Uriah the Hittite was a consummate soldier—skilled, courageous, and devoted to his king. David understood Joab’s likely mood of displeasure and disquiet at losing a trooper like Uriah. David’s indiscretion meant taking care of business to cover his tracks, but at the same time, he risked his general’s disgruntlement. Let’s get this straight: David used his unparalleled leadership skills to comfort the commander of the nation’s fighting forces in the wake of a killing David arranged of that commander’s finest soldier in order to conceal his own misdeed. Right. This is what David’s stewardship of his God-given abilities had come to.

Re:Verse passage – 2 Samuel 11 (day two) 

Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. vs. 6

This is a hard read, make no mistake. A man who we revere succumbs to sin. We want to believe there are those above reproach, and that those we esteem would never stoop to such degradation. We must remind ourselves that it is Jesus alone who walked a sinless life.

What strikes me as I reread this passage today is that David’s actions to cover up his sin came only after Bathsheba sent word that she was pregnant. It seems he would have been content to ignore his lust and subsequent adulterous actions had pregnancy not been the result. Does this just sicken you? It does me, but perhaps not the way you would think. I am wounded because I recognize that tendency. If I’m in no danger of being caught, then I won’t have to acknowledge the action. We can all recognize the error in this thinking, but that does not stop our sinful tendencies. We are often content to just keep walking with sin corroding our hearts simply because nobody noticed.

The old axiom states: Truth will out. Whether or not anyone else ever finds out, you can bet you will be held accountable before God.