Friday, June 14, 2024

I think that David’s sin with Bathsheba is one of the saddest stories in the Bible. It makes me reflect on how difficult it is to maintain a posture of righteous humility when one arrives at a position of power, of any sort. Every time I read this story and the subsequent downward spiral of David’s family, it reminds me how tenuous my hold is on my own path of righteousness as I try to follow Jesus.

Having lost his moral authority, David no longer seems able to instruct or discipline his children, or require them to follow the law of God. One son rapes his sister with no consequence or even comment by his father. Another brother determines to take matters into his own hands, murdering his brother, the rapist. Another son stages a coup and forces David to flee from the throne in Jerusalem into exile. After such an impressive beginning, David allows his unresolved problems to persist and undermine his inheritance.

But God never removes his promise from King David. As a result, Jesus comes from the line and lineage of David. It is amazing, isn’t it? But that’s who God is! He isn’t a god who waits for us to mess up so he can punish us. If I believe what the Bible says about who he is, he already knows I’m going to mess up. He has a plan for that!

That plan is and always was, Jesus. It is never too late for God to redeem our problems. While this doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences, as David and his family experienced, God continues in his love for us. He provides a way to restore our relationship with him.

1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

We need to remember, always, that God doesn't love and care for us because of who we are but because of who he is. We need only to get honest with him, ourselves, and others. It’s simple, not easy, but well worth it!

Questions:
Do you have unresolved problems that seem to persist and infect your relationships? Can you write one or two of them down?

Next Steps:
Pastor Andy Stanley says that when you allow unresolved issues to live in your heart, they go down to the basement and lift weights, coming back stronger and more powerful than ever! Get honest with God and yourself, and then share those honest thoughts with a trusted friend or pastor.

Prayer:
Father, I am so sorry that I do not bring all my cares and problems to you. I know that you know, but confession is important for me, to recognize my own sin. If I don't recognize it, how can I repent of it and turn my heart back to you? Show me where I have decided my sin isn’t that important to you because it isn’t as bad as … whose? Help me to remember that you don’t grade on a curve, and sin is sin is sin. Give me the courage this week to acknowledge my sin and share it with a trusted friend who can hold me accountable to turn from it and back to you. In your beautiful name I pray, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Psalm 37:3-4

³ Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. ⁴ Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

This post was written by Lauri White, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.