You’re the One!
Last week we chatted about King David’s sin with Bathsheba. It all began with being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His defenses were down. He wasn’t guarding his heart.
After Bathsheba became pregnant, David had her husband (Uriah) killed. We can’t be certain how much time passed, but eventually Nathan the prophet confronted King David. He told him a parable that outlined his sin.
David was angry at the guilty man in the parable and didn’t realize it was him until Nathan pointed at him and said, “You’re the one!”
(See 2 Samuel 12:7).
David repented, God forgave him and used him in a mighty way.
David was a man of virtue and vice . . . and this tells us something about the complexity of God’s work. God has the ability to transform the sinner into someone special.
He makes beauty out of ashes.
He sees the potential in each one of us to fully become who He created us to be!
God could constantly point His finger at us and say, “You’re the one!” But instead, He vividly shows us His Cross. He reminds us of His sacrifice for our sins.
Instead of accusing, He offers grace, forgiveness and mercy—if we’ll seek His forgiveness and turn away from our sin.
What a God!
Thoughts?
I’m speaking in New Mexico this week. Thanks so much for your prayers. God is so faithful!
A Wrong Place, Wrong Time
King David, though, a mighty warrior, sinned when he lusted after Bathsheba. That sin led to another sin—sleeping with her—and when she became pregnant, David simply continued to dig himself deeper into a pit of sin.
You may recall that he brought her husband in from war to sleep with her, so he could deceive Uriah and make him think that Bathsheba became pregnant from her husband.
But when Uriah refused the comfort of being with his wife while his men were risking their lives in battle, David had him killed.
One sin led to another and another and another.
And it all began with being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Let’s look at Scripture:
“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war . . . David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1 NIV).
Why wasn’t David where he should have been?
Why wasn’t he at war with the rest of his men?
Failing to be where he should have been, got him in trouble.
This is where his downward spiral begins.
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her” (2 Samuel 11:2-3 NIV).
Wrong move, David!
Sometimes we can’t help what we see.
We live in a fallen world.
But we can determine how long we continue to view it.
David lingered too long.
“The man said, ‘She is Bathsheba . . . then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her”
(2 Samuel 11:3-4 NIV).
Right now would be a great time for David to seek forgiveness and repent. (Repent means to walk away from sin; to turn completely away from it.)
He knew what he did was wrong. But when he received the news that she was pregnant, he continued to sin by ordering her husband be placed on the front line of battle where he knew Uriah would be killed.
And it all began with being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Holy Spirit is faithful to guide us on the right path.
“Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation” (Psalm 25:4-5 LB).
Being on the right path—and staying on the right path—begins with asking God to SHOW us and LEAD us.
Let’s commit to asking God each morning to show us the right path and empower us to remain on it.
Thoughts?
I’ll be speaking in New Mexico August 1-6. Please pray for me.