Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-31; John 16:1-33; Psalm 119:65-80: Proverbs 16:4-5
The Lord sent Nathan to David to give him an allegory of his own life. David was blinded to his own sin but fully alive to this man’s sin in the story. When David was outraged, Nathan told him that he was the man in the story and that because he did this in secret, God would do the same to him publicly. Calamity would come to his kingdom and his wives would be taken by someone who was close to David. This person would lay with his wives in broad daylight.
Instead of protesting, David repented, but he would lose the life of his son. Because David knew the mercy and kindness of the Lord, he fasted and prayed for mercy for his son. His son lived seven days before he died. Then David got up and ate. His servants didn’t understand David’s actions so he explained that while the child was alive, he prayed for him, but now there was nothing left to pray for. He went and comforted Bathsheba. God blessed David’s repentance and gave them another son. David named this son Solomon which means “peaceableness”. Nathan named him Jedidiah which means “beloved of God”. God had put his stamp of approval on this child.
Because David put things in the right order and repented, God gave him victory over the Ammonites and gave him a new crown.
When we repent. we get promoted in God’s kingdom. God doesn’t look at the horribleness of our sin, but the purity of our heart when we repent. When God forgives, he does it completely. He never goes back to rehash it like we do. He only goes forward to the next assignment.
In John, Jesus warned his disciples of what was ahead for them. They were headed for social, religious and personal persecution because they had followed Jesus. Jesus comforted them with the fact that they would not face this alone but the Holy Spirit would be given them to help them. He would convict the world of their sin, bring righteousness to the earth, and judge the devil.
Jesus told them that in a little while they wouldn’t see him then in a little while they would see him again. They had no idea what his riddle meant so he explained that he was going to leave them and go to heaven, but then he would come back to them. Before he left, they would leave him and be scattered. He would be all alone but they were not to worry about him because his father would be with him. Jesus was referring to his arrest and his trial. Jesus told them this, so they could have some peace of mind when it happened. He reminded them that he had overcome the world.
I wonder what they thought when he told them he had overcome the world. Maybe, that he really was going to become a king and set Israel free. In their wildest imaginations, they couldn’t have seen what was about to happen. It tested their faith to the core. The trials we go through do the same to us. We have to find joy in the pain and rejoice in our sorrow. Then God can lift up our heads and give us peace.
Lord, we remember what you did on the cross and the resurrection. Help us to concentrate on the resurrection. There is life in every death! In every repentance there is great promotion! Thank you for all the men who died serving our country and giving us a life of peace. Bless them and their families.
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