A man with an engaging story drove the point home. His unsuspecting listener was drawn in and reached a conclusion that was an indictment on his own personal conduct.
A prophet named Nathan met with King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 12, and cunningly confronted David's personal sin with an innocent-sounding story about a rich man with large flocks of sheep, and a poor man with one cherished lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4). The blatant injustice in the story aroused the ire and anger of King David, providing the opportunity for stunning personal application: "Nathan then said to David, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7).
David found the whole sordid episode of his adultery, covered up with murder, staring him in the face through the prophet whom God had sent to him. Secret sin was no longer secret. The secret sin of the bedroom and the backroom was on public display in the palace courtyard. And there would be consequences.
Psalm fifty-one is a transcript of the heartfelt confession of King David concerning this dark chapter in his life. Through confrontation, there was confession, repentance, and ultimately forgiveness.
"Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die" (2 Samuel 12:13).
Although there was grace and forgiveness amidst genuine confession, there were consequences that forgiveness could never eradicate:
"Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife" (2 Samuel 12:10)
The lesson is that sin scars. Our Father is rich in mercy toward his children who are sincerely repentant over sin, but sin's consequences remain. Virginity is forever gone. The pain and bitterness of broken homes continue. Deep emotional scars disrupt happiness.
God would not have us continually bear the burden for sin committed, confessed, and forgiven. But often the very real consequence of our sin that has so deeply touched others is its lasting legacy, reminding us that sin really is an awful reality in a broken and imperfect world.
The record of the dark episode of sin in one man's life allows us to see the rays of forgiveness shining through the dark clouds of its consequences, and provides us with incentive to more fully walk in obedience to the Spirit, and be led further from the pathway of sin.
Steve
A prophet named Nathan met with King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 12, and cunningly confronted David's personal sin with an innocent-sounding story about a rich man with large flocks of sheep, and a poor man with one cherished lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4). The blatant injustice in the story aroused the ire and anger of King David, providing the opportunity for stunning personal application: "Nathan then said to David, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7).
David found the whole sordid episode of his adultery, covered up with murder, staring him in the face through the prophet whom God had sent to him. Secret sin was no longer secret. The secret sin of the bedroom and the backroom was on public display in the palace courtyard. And there would be consequences.
Psalm fifty-one is a transcript of the heartfelt confession of King David concerning this dark chapter in his life. Through confrontation, there was confession, repentance, and ultimately forgiveness.
"Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die" (2 Samuel 12:13).
Although there was grace and forgiveness amidst genuine confession, there were consequences that forgiveness could never eradicate:
"Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife" (2 Samuel 12:10)
The lesson is that sin scars. Our Father is rich in mercy toward his children who are sincerely repentant over sin, but sin's consequences remain. Virginity is forever gone. The pain and bitterness of broken homes continue. Deep emotional scars disrupt happiness.
God would not have us continually bear the burden for sin committed, confessed, and forgiven. But often the very real consequence of our sin that has so deeply touched others is its lasting legacy, reminding us that sin really is an awful reality in a broken and imperfect world.
The record of the dark episode of sin in one man's life allows us to see the rays of forgiveness shining through the dark clouds of its consequences, and provides us with incentive to more fully walk in obedience to the Spirit, and be led further from the pathway of sin.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:37 AM
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