Turning to God

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

This sordid tale of lust, adultery, deception and murder seems out of place in the life of "a man after God's own heart" -- but there is David -- guilty and deserving of death, and there was not going to be an easy road back to right-standing with God. David had strayed far from the Lord. His success had drawn him into a moral malaise that he was completely unaware of, and his heart had become cold and craven -- just like his predecessor, Saul. (If we are not careful, we can become what we despise.) He had ignored the word of God and everything he knew was right, and his conscience was the casualty. Since David covered his ears and refused God's correction, he would be confronted by the prophet, forced to own up to his sin, and he would have to suffer the consequences -- and the consequences would be great.

Two innocent people would die for David's sin, Uriah and the child born to Bathsheba. There would never be peace in David's household again -- there would be conspiracy, rebellion, rape, and more of his children would die as a result. All this because David refused God's correction, and his conscience died soon after, leaving him defenseless against the lust of his eyes, the lust of his flesh, and the pride of life. May each of us take heed.

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, please forgive me for being slow to respond to the Holy Spirit's correction. May I turn away from every impulse to sin against you today, and may I turn immediately when You speak. In Jesus' name, Amen.