<\/p>\n
1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11-12:14; Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-25; 2 Samuel 5:14-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7; 1 Chronicles 3:5-9<\/strong><\/span> Interesting set of readings yesterday and today in Second Samuel.\u00a0 We started off yesterday with David showing kindness to Saul\u2019s crippled grandson Mephibosheth and we end with David committing adultery, ordering the murder of one of his warriors, and making God very unhappy.\u00a0 What happened to change the course of events like this??\u00a0 I think this is something that each one of us should take heed of \u2013 even when things are going very well in our walk with God, things can suddenly go the wrong direction if we are not vigilant in fleeing from sin and temptation.\u00a0 David was obviously tempted when he saw Bathsheba from his rooftop.\u00a0 He should have left that temptation there, and fled from it immediately \u2013 but instead he gave into it.\u00a0 He asked about Bathsheba (entertaining temptation\u2026) and invited her over and then committed adultery.\u00a0 Then\u2026 things got worse.\u00a0 That\u2019s how sin goes.\u00a0 Once we let it start to run <\/em>our life it can quickly start to ruin<\/em> our life.\u00a0 David thought he could trick Uriah into thinking Uriah got his wife pregnant \u2013 but Uriah in chapter 11 was behaving much more honorably than the king!\u00a0 He would not sleep with his own wife when he knew other warriors were sleeping on the battlefields.\u00a0 Uriah acted honorably.\u00a0 David did not.\u00a0 David allowed sin to run the show.\u00a0 Below is a powerful painting by James Tissot showing the moment on the rooftop where David allowed temptation to take over\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Again \u2013 back to our lives \u2013 have you ever seen a pattern of sin running the show in your life?\u00a0 I know I have in the past.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dangerous pattern to see taking place in our lives.\u00a0 It can lead to all kinds of pain and suffering for ourselves and those around us.\u00a0 If you are perhaps even in the midst of sin running the show in your life now, there is hope.\u00a0 There is confession and repentance.\u00a0 David does give us this example in Psalm 51.\u00a0 Psalm 51 David wrote after the events in chapter 11 took place with Bathsheba & Uriah.\u00a0 \u00a0Psalm 51 is a powerful Psalm of confession and repentance.\u00a0 You may be at the point where you need to pray this Psalm to God now.\u00a0 I think each of us does well when we pray this Psalm to God regularly.\u00a0 We certainly may not be at the point where David was in chapter 11 \u2013 but, we likely have sin to confess to God \u2013 even right now. <\/span><\/p>\n We read a great parable from the prophet Nathan today to start 2 Samuel chapter 12!\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 Convicting stuff for David\u2026\u00a0 You\u2019ll note that David said in response to this parable in verse 6: \u201cHe must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.\u201d<\/em> Well, sure enough, David paid for the death of Uriah 4 times over through the future deaths of 4 of David\u2019s sons:\u00a0 the unnamed son who dies in this chapter, Amon dies in chapter 13, Absalom in chapter 18, and Adonijah in First Kings 2:25.\u00a0 I read a commentary that said God forgave David of his sin, but God did not negate all the consequences of David\u2019s sin.\u00a0 Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of David being confronted by Nathan.\u00a0 You can imagine Nathan saying verse 9 in this image: \u201cWhy did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our Second Samuel readings today titled \u201cDavid and Bathsheba\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cDavid and Uriah\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cDavid and God (Nathan)\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cReal Repentance\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cThe Death of David\u2019s Son\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today we read one of my favorite Psalms!\u00a0 Psalm 51. Psalm 51 is David\u2019s humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed in battle. I believe that this Psalm can continue to be a humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing for each of us today. This Psalm is read by many liturgical churches during the season of Lent as a penitential Psalm.\u00a0<\/span>A brief quote about Psalm 51 from this Bible.org is this \u2013 \u201cThe application of the psalm to believers today should be obvious. We, like David, can and must have complete cleansing before we can fully and freely serve God in any capacity. Our eternal destiny may not be in doubt when we sin as believers, and neither was David\u2019s because he appealed to that covenant relationship, but our fellowship and service will be. God will not tolerate unconfessed sin, and so will hold us accountable if we do not confess.\u201d I\u2019ve been trying to figure out my favorite portion or two of this Psalm to share with you. . . but I can\u2019t just pick one portion. It is all so powerful! Tell you what \u2013 I\u2019m going to copy the full Psalm below in the NIV translation (my favorite for this Psalm). Please take a few moments to meditate upon this Psalm. My questions for reflection are these \u2013 Do you confess your sins to God? Do you confess your sins to others? And ask them to hold you accountable? When was the last time you confessed your sins to God? Do you have sins to confess to God today? Will you do so now? I pray this Psalm opens up your heart to the amazing burden that is lifted when we confess our sins to God. . . <\/span> Psalm 51<\/strong> For I know my transgressions, Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Create in me a pure heart, O God, Then I will teach transgressors your ways, O Lord, open my lips, In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; Worship Video:<\/strong> Psalm 51 reminded me of the fantastic song \u201cCreate in me a Clean Heart\u201d performed here by Donnie McClurkin and a choir:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.<\/span><\/p>\n
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.<\/span><\/p>\n
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.<\/span><\/p>\n
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.<\/span><\/p>\n
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.<\/span><\/p>\n
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.<\/span><\/p>\n
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar. <\/span>