13.) Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
14.) But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt the son born to you will die.”
15.) After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. (16) David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. (17) The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
18.) On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”
19.) David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
20.) Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
The twelfth chapter of 2 Samuel records the consequences of one of the blackest hours in David’s live. He had been guilty of both adultery and murder. He had disobeyed four of God’s laws: thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not steal and thou shall not cover thy neighbor’s wife. Though David’s repentance was immediate and sincere, there would be necessary repercussion in his life: (1) The sword would never depart from his house. (2) Evil would come upon him out of his own house, his wives would be shamed publicly (2Sam. 16:22) (3) The child would die (2 Sam 12:15-19). This was an important event because it openly shows the presence of sin, even in the life of a man of God, and how that man responded with deep humility and repentance, even when its consequences plagued him throughout his life (see Ps.51).
Bishop G. L. De Geddingseze, who preached the sermon on the 13th of December, tells us that if the spirit had not been involved David’s worship would have been ridiculous and crazy. His crimes were a breach of trust against God. David was guilty of acts of treachery that spurned his Creator. He returned a slap in the face to a generous God, a God who had given all, provided all. This is why David says, in Psalm 51:4, "Against Thee, Thee only I have sinned." Christians must believe that God with His grace and mercy will not allow us to stay in a state of sin. The following three steps should be taken to reconcile with God through Jesus Christ.
1) Translate our transgression and transform it into triumph-A damaged relationship with God. Isaiah 59:1-2 shows that sin creates division between God and us because of the breach of trust. David took seven days of fasting and praying preparing for life after tragedy. (See Psalms 51)
2) Your issues don’t cancel your identity-After David’s transgressions were committed, he was still the king. It does not matter whether the perpetrator is wealthy or impoverished. If you are a born again believer you are still a child of the kingdom.
3) Realize the substance of your consequences-God will forgive, cleanse, and restore but there are consequences. Even with God's forgiveness, there are effects that remain and must be borne by the sinner—and tragically, by those sinned against.
Christian friends God is willing to expend amazing amounts of resources to save just you. A full recovery is possible.
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