During our family prayer, we have been reading from 2 Samuel for the past few days. Here I put down, a thought, that has had it’s profound effect on me.
SCRIPTURAL PORTION - 2 Samuel 12: 9, 10
2 Samuel is a book that speaks on the life of King David of Israel. As we progress through the account of his life, we see arrogance and self-conceit ruin the life, of probably the greatest King of Israel.
As a young shepherd lad, David found favor in the eyes of Jehovah, and was anointed King of Israel. Yet the ascent to the throne did not happen as quickly as David would have expected. King Saul ruled the land. Although David had a huge number of warriors at his disposal and could have easily dethroned the King, we see that David waited patiently for the Lord to work and reveal His will. This wait prolonged for years. King Saul made it no easy for him to survive - let alone think about the throne.
The character of David is revealed through this period of wait and we see God’s choice of King for Israel is absolutely impeccable. Just, benevolent, valiant and most importantly, a man after God's heart. He placed God foremost in his life and looked to the Lord for every step he took. He did not act until he had God’s consent. God gave him dominion over all the neighboring enemy nations and he subdued all who came in his way. God did not let any force triumph over him. Finally after years of battle, David ascended the throne. Peace reigned in the land.
Now getting back to the context - Israel was defamed among the Ammonites, and had to win back their bruised glory. As the king, David should have ideally begun preparations for the war. Instead he chose to relax in his palace when his troops were gearing up for battle. Wrong place! David did not also seek God's counsel. Wrong decision!!
While his army is battling at the forefront, David goes to a very inappropriate place and sees Bathsheba, and the rest is history.
The very first sin that he did was to break the Ten Commandments. He looked, desired and coveted something that was not his. To acquire what he coveted, he had to do one sin after another. Deceit, conspiracy and murder followed. What brought David so low?
At the root of it all, lay pride and complacency. He took his blessings and power for granted. For a short span of time, he felt he was in control.
In the scripture, we see that David plotted and murdered Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. David then took her to be his wife. Shortly after David had a son. All this while David showed no remorse and went on with his life. Strangely, God is silent too and lets David carry on with his life until his son was born.
Bathsheba's son fell sick. David then came to sense his folly. God sent a prophet, accused David of his crime, and brought out his judgement through his very own mouth and verdict for himself. God touched the health of his son and eventually took the child's life. But the judgement of God had only just begun.
God vowed that the sword would never leave his generations. His sons followed suits in committing crimes. His very throne and power was defied and despised by his sons. David did repent of his hideous sin, and sincerely too. God re-instated David and their relationship. But from then on, time did not permit him peace or rest. The curse that befell David, took away the complacent life. The wound was healed, but it left behind a huge scar.
Sin, although forgiven, leaves behind a scar. A symbol of remembrance that even others will see and remember.
SCRIPTURAL PORTION - 2 Samuel 12: 9, 10
2 Samuel is a book that speaks on the life of King David of Israel. As we progress through the account of his life, we see arrogance and self-conceit ruin the life, of probably the greatest King of Israel.
As a young shepherd lad, David found favor in the eyes of Jehovah, and was anointed King of Israel. Yet the ascent to the throne did not happen as quickly as David would have expected. King Saul ruled the land. Although David had a huge number of warriors at his disposal and could have easily dethroned the King, we see that David waited patiently for the Lord to work and reveal His will. This wait prolonged for years. King Saul made it no easy for him to survive - let alone think about the throne.
The character of David is revealed through this period of wait and we see God’s choice of King for Israel is absolutely impeccable. Just, benevolent, valiant and most importantly, a man after God's heart. He placed God foremost in his life and looked to the Lord for every step he took. He did not act until he had God’s consent. God gave him dominion over all the neighboring enemy nations and he subdued all who came in his way. God did not let any force triumph over him. Finally after years of battle, David ascended the throne. Peace reigned in the land.
Now getting back to the context - Israel was defamed among the Ammonites, and had to win back their bruised glory. As the king, David should have ideally begun preparations for the war. Instead he chose to relax in his palace when his troops were gearing up for battle. Wrong place! David did not also seek God's counsel. Wrong decision!!
While his army is battling at the forefront, David goes to a very inappropriate place and sees Bathsheba, and the rest is history.
The very first sin that he did was to break the Ten Commandments. He looked, desired and coveted something that was not his. To acquire what he coveted, he had to do one sin after another. Deceit, conspiracy and murder followed. What brought David so low?
At the root of it all, lay pride and complacency. He took his blessings and power for granted. For a short span of time, he felt he was in control.
In the scripture, we see that David plotted and murdered Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba. David then took her to be his wife. Shortly after David had a son. All this while David showed no remorse and went on with his life. Strangely, God is silent too and lets David carry on with his life until his son was born.
Bathsheba's son fell sick. David then came to sense his folly. God sent a prophet, accused David of his crime, and brought out his judgement through his very own mouth and verdict for himself. God touched the health of his son and eventually took the child's life. But the judgement of God had only just begun.
God vowed that the sword would never leave his generations. His sons followed suits in committing crimes. His very throne and power was defied and despised by his sons. David did repent of his hideous sin, and sincerely too. God re-instated David and their relationship. But from then on, time did not permit him peace or rest. The curse that befell David, took away the complacent life. The wound was healed, but it left behind a huge scar.
Sin, although forgiven, leaves behind a scar. A symbol of remembrance that even others will see and remember.
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