How do you react when God points out sin in your life?
2 Samuel 12 tells us about Nathan, the prophet, confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Verse 9 points out the seriousness of this sin. "Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes." David acknowledged his sin (Vs. 13). "I have sinned against the Lord." But Nathan told him even though he would not die because of his sin, there would be consequences; the son born to him would die.
A strong indictment against David was "You have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt." (Vs 14.) We find this theme in other places in scripture. Rom. 2:24, "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Speaking of false teachers, Peter writes, "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into dispute." 2 Pet. 2:2. Ezek. 35:2 says that Israel had profaned his name among the nations. Our sin not only affects us but has repercussions on the name of the Lord. Many times people say, "They claim to be a Christian and they did...........................
In David's defense, he was quick to acknowledge his sin. Psalm 51 is David's prayer to the Lord after Nathan confronted him. He pleads for cleansing, a pure heart and restoration of his joy.
Jeremiah 16 once again documents the sin of Israel. "You have behaved more wickedly than your fathers." (Vs. 12.) "My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols." (Verses 17-18) Jer. 2:5b says they followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. Also see Psa. 135:18, Hos. 9:10. We become like whatever we worship.
Israel's response was not one of repentance but of arrogance. "What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord our God." (Vs. 10.) Because of their lack of repentance the Lord brought bondage to them and abandoned them to their enemies. Yet even in the Lord's anger he says the day will come when he will restore them. How much better it would have been for them to repent and escape the judgment of the Lord.
Matthew 27 records how Judas reacted after he betrayed Jesus. He was seized with remorse but evidently not repentance. He did acknowledge that he had sinned and tried to give the 30 pieces of silver back to the priests. Then he hung himself.
The rest of Matthew 27 is the account of the crucifixion of Jesus who paid the once and for all penalty for our sin so we can, liked David, acknowledge, confess and ask forgiveness for our sin. I John 1:9. Let us pray as David prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; ........See if there is any offensive way in me: Psa. 139;23-24.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - 2 Samuel 13, Jeremiah 17, Matthew 28
God is good all the time.
1 comment:
Psalm 51 is a bold prayer, asking for a clean heart means that we are willing to get rid of things that are rooted, hidden, scary looking, dark. which means we'll have to deal with those things.
David's response was one of humility and courage at the same time. This blog is very encouraging, I think we have to be bold and humble enough to ask for a clean heart everyday.
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