Bible reading for May 27

Scripture

2 Samuel 12:11- 14 “Because of what you have done, I, the Lord, will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will do this to you openly in the sight of all Israel. Then David confessed to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. Nathan replied, yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. But you have given the enemies of the Lord great opportunity to despise and blaspheme him, so your child will die.”

Observation

David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. David then covered up the sin for around nine months. God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David concerning his sin. Here are some lessons:

1) God gave David grace. The punishment for adultery was death. Even in Jesus’ day they wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery. Yet God did not take David’s life, he spared him. God gave David grace.

2) David did have to pay the consequences of his sin. Just because God gave David grace did not mean David would not reap what he sowed. A few days later David’s son that was conceived in sin died. Later another one of David’s sons, Absalom, rebelled against David and slept with David’s wives in a tent on the roof of the palace, in front of all Israel. What David did in secret, God judged in public. This is a reminder that there are consequences to sin. Just because God forgives us does not mean He will remove the consequences. You will reap what you sow. Will God forgive you? Yes. Will you go to heaven? Yes. Will you reap what you sow? Most likely, yes. God’s grace is free but it is not cheap. And remember God will not be mocked.

3) David’s sin was primarily against God. All sin is against God and is serious in the sight of God. Did David sin against man? Yes, he sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah. But primarily David sinned against God. The prophet Nathan said you gave the enemies of the Lord great opportunity to despise and blaspheme God’s name.

Application

1) I must remember that all sin is serious and wickedness. Sin is against God. There is no such thing as little and big sins. They all cause shame on God’s name.

2) I must remember that I will reap what I sow. There are consequences to my actions. Sin has a cost. There will be a penalty when I sin against God.

3) I must remember that God is a God of grace. Forgiveness is available. Most likely, I will pay the price for my sins but God will still love me. I am still His. He will keep me. He will never forsake me. I may deserve death but He gives life.

Prayer

Father, I want to be pleasing to you. I want to become more like Jesus. Transform me. Make me more like you. Renew my mind. Reprogram the way I think. Change me. Mold me. Make me who you want me to be. Forgive me. Have mercy on me. Give me grace not the judgment I deserve. I come to you with my sins, failures, and faults. I ask that you cleanse and purify me. I love you. Keep me from evil. Lead me not into temptation. I want to be holy. I want to please you. I want to cause you to smile.