2 Samuel 12:1-14; John 15:18-27; Psalms 119:59-64; Proverbs 25:25-27
OT: “Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hethite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife — you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword… David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Then Nathan replied to David, “And the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die. However, because you treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son born to you will die.”” (2 Samuel 12:7-9, 13-14 CSB)
David, the man after God’s own heart, was not immune from falling into a sordid scandal. Sin is always lurking at the ready to consume us, and often times, we become the most vulnerable after our greatest victories and mountain-top experiences. Those highs, if we let down our guard, have a way of causing us to become too confident in ourselves. David had just been given an amazing prophetic word about his legacy, and I wonder if he was feeling a little indestructible. Whatever the reason, he used his authority to take advantage of a woman, and then had her husband killed to cover up his indiscretions. He would have gotten away from it, were it not for God’s love for David. Sometimes true love requires us getting angry when someone does something that will destroy them… and that is what God did. He got angry, and He sent Nathan to confront David. By confronting David with his sin, Nathan was taking risking his life. David had already killed someone to cover up his scandal, and he was known for killing people who brought him bad news. David had the choice to defend himself and further harden his heart, or humble himself and repent of his sin. Thankfully, when Nathan brought his word from the Lord, David realized the evil that he committed and quickly repented. There would be consequences to his sin, but because David repented, his relationship with the Lord remained intact.
Psalms: “The Lord is my portion; I have promised to keep your words. I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands. Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction. I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments. I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts. Lord, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.” (Psalms 119:57-64 CSB)
This eight verse stanza in Psalm 119 speaks of rapid repentance. The writer spoke of his desire and his vow to pursue God and keep His words – but apparently, at some point, the writer strayed from God’s ways for his own. The psalmist then wrote, “I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to Your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.” If that is not rapid repentance, I don’t know what is. Once we are confronted with our sin, it is so important that we rapidly repent. The longer we hold on to the sin that we have been confronted with, the harder our hearts become, and the harder it becomes to confess and come clean. The Bible teaches that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. He is faithful to forgive once we humble ourselves, admit our wrong and repent. God’s mercy is new every morning to those who remain clean before him. The way that we stay clean is through humble confession and rapid repentance.
Jamie Hicks 