(In Pastor Scott's absence, I have chosen to focus on the reading from April 10 regarding David's sin with Bathsheba.)
The passages on David's adultery with Bathsheba, cover-up efforts, murder of her husband Uriah, and subsequent repentance offer an amazing picture into the depth of human weakness and the amazing grace of God. Many times, our culture incorrectly associates the Old Testament accounts of God with a vindictive streak. Here, however, we see how genuine repentance can stave off deserved destruction of the sinner.
Several highlights:
1. How it all began. With the swirling stories of Tiger Woods and the numerous "I've-been-unfaithful" press conferences that we have witnessed in recent years, we may have become jaded to the sin of adultery. We may have become desensitized, but that doesn't change the horrible consequences that have resulted for Tiger, Mark Sanford, and Elliot Spitzer. We may distrust a politician or a "role model" for his infidelities, but what transpires within the family has deeply penetrating effects. Adultery destroys the lives of not only its perpetrators, but all those in their respective families.
We often wonder: Why would he or she do that? In Tiger's case, for example, he had an ostensibly "perfect" life, with a loving, beautiful wife and two healthy children. Worldly success had accrued to him because of his great golf talent and shrewd business dealings. Yet, because he felt "entitled," he took advantage of many women who were willing participants in short-term thinking and instant gratification. We might translate "entitled" to mean "prideful," and we may see that Tiger and King David likely suffered from the same line of thinking: I can act upon my fantasies. King David abused his high position to take advantage of a beautiful woman he happened to see bathing.
2. What it costs. In this case, David's sin caused the following, among other things:
a. A destroyed reputation for both David and Bathsheba;
b. Uriah's life;
c. The death of the offspring from the lovers' tryst; and
d. A ruptured relationship with God for both David and Bathsheba.
This passage offers clear examples of how "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a) Fortunately, we know that the second half of this verse reads: "But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Only through Jesus's righteous atonement for our sins -- a living God-man, broken for us and crushed for our iniquities -- could we receive the reconciliation for sin. David looked ahead to this sacrifice, leaning upon God's "unfailing love" and "great compassion."
3. The value of true repentance. In contrast to King Saul before him, David earnestly repents of his sin when Nathan brings him to accountability. He recognizes the gravity of his shortcomings and the importance of reconciliation. He acknowledges that he has "sinned against the LORD" and that only through "a broken and contrite heart" can he find reconciliation. He recommits his life to serving God, to praising Him. He later will receive praise as a "man after God's own heart." Only through a God-made sacrifice and true repentance can such a transformation occur: from adulterer to beloved son.
4. How to avoid these pitfalls. We can only hope to honor God when we desire His presence more than the temptations and glimmering hopes that the world offers. God has created us to love Him, to enjoy Him, and to honor Him. We, however, often choose the short-term benefits of sin, typically because we esteem the joy that God's presence offers too little.
It is helpful to think of living a godly life in terms of training for a race. Great runners not only run races, but they prepare earnestly for months and years ahead of time. In addition to many training runs, they change their diet and sleep patterns in order to "peak" at the right moment. Many of these decisions cost something: choosing a salad vs. Twinkies; running on a cold, rainy day vs. watching TV; and clearing the social calendar ahead of the big race. They only achieve their goals by consistently choosing the "harder right over the easier wrong." Taken individually, these decisions could be challenging, but the dedicated runner esteems the thrill of a fully committed effort and potential victory as of greater value than the compound effect of the short-term thrills of making the "easier" choices.
In a similar manner, our love for God and His presence and those around us may propel us to eschew the "easier" choices that would derail our faith and life. Instead of lustful glances, we remember God's beauty and the value of the marriage commitments we have made. Instead of waiting for others to serve us, we remember Jesus's attitude of humility and the joy He promised in following Him. Instead of bowing to overwhelming cultural voices, we offer ours in songs of praise, words of encouragement, and testimonies of God's goodness. The Holy Spirit provides the "power source" for making right decisions, and each believer may call out to God for the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit: for imparting wisdom and knowledge and for carrying out the commands and truth of God's Word.
QUESTIONS
1. What grace has God shown you over the last week?
2. How can you live more in light of God's awesome goodness vs. the world's temptations?
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