DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-08-30
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 12:24-25
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁴ Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child ²⁵ and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the Lord”), as the Lord had commanded.

APPLICATION: Although the Bible does not record it this way, it appears that Satan entered into David when he saw Bathsheba taking her bath on the roof of her home. Despite the number of wives that David already had, yet his carnal mind became filled with lust for another man’s wife, and being the king, he knew that he could get whatever he desired. After committing the sin of adultery, David did what most of us do when we sin, he tried to cover it up. His guards and personal attendants knew that David had sent for Bathsheba, and they probably had a pretty good idea what went on behind the closed doors of his bedroom. Yet David’s sin led him to even more sin as he continued down a path to have his own way. Often, we will gather in our groups and discuss how terrible David was, but I firmly believe that God would desire that we examine our own heart and how we try to cover up our sin. Hopefully no reader or listener ever had someone killed to avoid being found out about his/her sin. But when we allow Satan a little leverage in our lives, he will push that to the limit as he mocks God through us. Way too often we follow in David’s footsteps in going after something that we really shouldn’t have, or that we know will displease God, but we do it anyway. Then comes a time of reckoning: men lose their good wives; children disown their mothers; pastors lose all respect and are asked to leave a church where they have flourished in ministry; elders bring disgrace on their church; we lose our job and spend time in prison; or like David, we may even lose a child. In our story, we know that David went through an awful time of mourning over the loss of his child, and we know that Bathsheba needed a time of consoling after David was able to do so. Think about what happens to churches left to deal with the effects of sin. Some never overcome its impact, and some lose many members because of it. Think about families faced with the effects of sin. Divorce; separation from God and from each other; infighting, children who disappear and never return. Friends, God showed us through David that He abhors sin and will just not stand for it. But to an even greater extent, God showed us through this story that He is a forgiving God, and while He will punish us for our sin, He is faithful to forgive us when He sees that we are sorry and want to overcome the sin that so easily grabs hold of our attention. This reminds me of what Jesus did on Calvary, for He could have called legions of angels to His rescue, but instead the Father showed His love for all mankind (whosoever will – according to John 3:16) that He prefers and desires to see us saved by His grace and mercy, than crucified because of our sin. But just as David humbled himself before God and sought forgiveness from the very depths of his heart, so we are to humble ourselves before the God who can – forgive us of our sin and still loves us knowing that our sin is totally washed away. So let me encourage you today dear friends: God loved David when He sought forgiveness, and He accepted Him with an open heart. That same God is still your God today and He will forgive you for our sin, if you ask Him to. Don’t put it off, for you are only promised the very moment in which you are at. Try going before the Master right now, ask His forgiveness and invite Him to be Lord, Ruler, and everlasting Father to you for the rest of your life here on earth. Just as He forgave David, He will also forgive you. No telling what He has in store for you as you look to Him for guidance and strength to face every temptation that comes your way.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God forgives – even those that we feel don’t deserve it or are way too ugly in their ways and mannerisms. He is a loving and forgiving God even to those we might never consider letting back in to our circle of influence.

PRAYER: You know us all too good Lord, for You know our thoughts and our intentions. David’s sin is recorded for all to read about, but many of us may still be trying to hide our sin. Thank You for reminding us that nothing is hidden from You, so it behooves us to keep our relationship open and transparent at all times. Thanks for warning us about how our sin hurts the Father, who gave His very own Son as a sacrifice for our sin. Please forgive us Lord and strengthen us every day to keep our eyes focused on Your righteousness so that we might desire to live upright, and in a manner pleasing to You. Thank You for being with David, forgiving him, and giving him another chance to happiness through his son Solomon. Keep us close to You, Lord, and invoke a spirit within us that will help us to seek You in every step of this challenging life here on earth. May we live life pleasing to You Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!