God's Forgiveness for Sinful People!

             The story of David and Bathsheba is well-known to most students of the Bible.  It is a tale of lust, covetousness, adultery, murder, and lying.  The surprise twist is that all these sins were committed by David, “the man after God’s own heart” (I Samuel 13: 14).  To us, that is one of the greatest contradictions of all time.  Yet, God uses this story to help us better understand who God is.

            He is a God who gives us free will.  God did not stop David from committing sin after sin.  He allowed him to make his own decisions—even though they were contrary to God’s teachings.  God is not a puppeteer who pulls the strings and makes us dance.  He will allow us to make our own mistakes and sins.  The sad part is that the farther we travel down the sin road, the more difficult it is to find our way back.

            Fortunately, God will confront us with our sins.  Nathan didn’t just show up with a good story for David.  The Scripture says, “The Lord send Nathan to David” (II Samuel 12: 1a).  David was forced to face his sins as well as the havoc it wreaked on so many lives.  Similarly, God will use various ways to confront us with the sin in our lives.

            Unfortunately, there are consequences for sin—always for the sinner but sometimes for those he or she loves.  The child that was born to Bathsheba and David died as a penalty for David’s sin.  While we may see that as unfair, the truth is that a world filled with sin is often unfair.  Families are destroyed when one partner commits adultery.  Innocent victims are injured or killed when someone chooses to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  The sins of child abuse are often carried from generation to generation.  The point is that when we sin, we are not the only ones who suffer.

Finally, David’s story reminds us that God forgives!  David acknowledged his sin, and the Lord took his sin away (II Samuel 12: 13).  There were still consequences, but God wasn’t done with David yet.  Another son was born to David and Bathsheba—Solomon.  He became the next king of Israel which fulfilled God’s promise to David. 

No matter our position, God views us the same—with justice and impartiality.  When we sin, there are consequences.  More importantly, there is also a loving God waiting for us to say the words of David, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  Don’t keep Him waiting!

II Samuel 11: 1 – 16 & 11: 26 – 12: 25

I John 1: 9, 10

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