Thursday July 23rd, 2015 2 Samuel 11:1-15
But David remained at Jerusalem. (verse 1)
When we think of David, mostly we remember him as the shepherd boy, the giant killer, the singer of psalms, the military hero who was in and out of favour with Saul, and finally as the king who united Judah and Israel into one nation. What a success story!
What’s next after success? Sometimes it’s more success. Quite often, the successful slip up, or worse. And so it was with King David. When his troops went to do battle with the Ammonites, David did not accompany them. Instead of going to war, he hung around on the roof of the palace in Jerusalem. It didn’t take long for David to behave in a way that violated not only the law of the land, but God’s law as well. To make matters worse, he lied about it. What a mess!
Adultery, murder and lies. There could be no easy way out of that mess. It took the prophet Nathan speaking truth to power, to extricate King David from the web of lies he had woven. David listened to Nathan, admitted his guilt to God (see Psalm 51) and was forgiven. It was a close call for this ancestor of the Messiah. With God, nothing is impossible!
Lord Jesus, help us to hear, speak and act on your truth. Amen. — CKA
Contributed by Time on His Hands
When we think of David, mostly we remember him as the shepherd boy, the giant killer, the singer of psalms, the military hero who was in and out of favour with Saul, and finally as the king who united Judah and Israel into one nation. What a success story!
What's next after success? Sometimes it's more success. Quite often, the successful slip up, or worse. And so it was with King David. When his troops went to do battle with the Ammonites, David did not accompany them. Instead of going to war, he hung around on the roof of the palace in Jerusalem. It didn't take long for David to behave in a way that violated not only the law of the land, but God's law as well. To make matters worse, he lied about it. What a mess!
Adultery, murder and lies. There could be no easy way out of that mess. It took the prophet Nathan speaking truth to power, to extricate King David from the web of lies he had woven. David listened to Nathan, admitted his guilt to God (see Psalm 51) and was forgiven. It was a close call for this ancestor of the Messiah. With God, nothing is impossible!
