Passage Read: 2 Samuel 10-13
Meditation Verses: 12:13-14
Thought
The consequence for adultery and for murder were death, but there was no one to judge David. So almost a year after the deeds were committed, God confronted David through Nathan the prophet. David confessed his sin immediately, and Nathan assured him that the Lord had taken away his sin and he would not die. This is such a hard passage to read. David was twice deserving of death, but the Lord forgave him and spared his life. Why? And then the next son to be born to him through Bathsheba would be so loved by the Lord that He would appoint him as David's successor! The mercy of the Lord is great. David received grace that Saul seems to have not been given. Saul messed up two, three times and lost the kingdom. On the one hand, it shows how blessed indeed are those whom God forgives, as David says in his psalm of response. God forgives those whom He chooses to have mercy on, but those who are rejected cannot receive mercy even when they seek it with tears, as Esau discovered. On the other hand, receiving God's forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences. The life of this first child with Bathsheba was taken, and David would eventually lose two more sons, a daughter and ten of his own concubines would be violated, and the nation would endure civil war because of David's sins. David was forgiven, but not freed from all consequence.
Application
Forgiveness is great, but that doesn't mean I don't still suffer for my sins. I'm not treated as my sins deserve, and that is a more precious gift than I realize. I'm so used to mercy that I take it for granted. If only I had a prophet to explain to me all the consequences I suffer for my sins even though forgiven. I would perhaps then have a greater fear of the Lord and determination to repent and reshape my ways according to His. Or I would lose my mind over all the ways I and those near me suffer because of my unfaithfulness. May God have mercy on us all and let all the remaining consequences of my sins fall upon myself alone. I need to be shaken and ashamed and broken by my sin, so much that I would flee as far from them and any other sins as possible. God help me see, and repent in truth.