Everybody loves a hero. King David was brave and handsome a brilliant musician, poet, leader and warrior. He was everything a good king should be. He loved God, ruled fairly, obeyed God’s commands and brought wealth, peace and joy to the people. But his story reminds me that the higher we rise the further we can fall.
In the story of second Samuel we are confronted with the sins of David and the subsequent consequences for him and his family. He slept with another man’s wife, got her pregnant and then planned the man’s death so nobody would find out. He ended up
marrying her. His family was torn apart by these terrible choices. When He eventually repented of his sin, God forgave him but his rule as a king was never the same again. In fact, as you trace his family records we discover that the family suffered many things as a result of David’s sin.
So, what can we learn from a king whose life was a mixture of success and fear, good and bad, love and hate, inner peace and turmoil?
First we learn that sin is in every one of us. The good book is very accurate when it states ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,’ Romans 3. 23. I could quote you a selection of other verses that describe the sinfulness and brokenness of the human heart but I think it is self evident that we are all contaminated by sin at some level. The fact is that any amount of sin is bad, it’s infectious, it contaminates us and it bars us from heaven in the future and from living life in the present as we were designed to do.
Secondly, the story (you need to read the whole account in 2 Samuel for yourself - it makes interesting reading) makes it very clear that God knows everything we do. There is a verse in the book of Genesis that some of us learned when we were children - ‘Thou God seest me’. It’s true - God knows everything, even what is going on in our hearts and minds, Romans 8. 27. David thinks that no one knows what he has done and he has got away with it. But he hasn’t. God knew and will eventually confront him. One day a man called Nathan came to him and told him that God was not happy with the way he had behaved, 2 Samuel 12:7-14.
Thirdly, we can learn that the faithfulness and grace of God never changes throughout our lives despite all our mistakes. The God I trust has a long fuse. He is not in the business of destroying your life and wants to make you whole. He wants to forgive your sins and bring you to Himself for blessing and salvation. Like David, that can only happen to you when you recognise and admit your sin, when you repent (change your thinking) and come humbly to God seeking forgiveness.
Ultimately, David could never stop praying to God despite his ups and downs.
When he was sad he prayed
When he was happy, he prayed!
When was the last time you prayed? Will you come clean and be honest with yourself and God. It could change your life for ever if you will.
Scripture to Read
2 Peter 3:1-13
This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles, knowing this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being deluged with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be found out.
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, in which righteousness dwells.
All photos courtesy of Unsplash
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