David admits his sin. If (in David’s own words) the man in the story who took and killed the lamb deserved to die, how much more does David who took a woman and killed a man. But in his mercy, God forgives him. David will not die. But there are consequences to the sin. God punishes and disciplines those whom he loves. The sword will not depart from David’s family. One close to David will humiliate him by sleeping with his wives, just as David had done to Uriah. The child that Bathsheba carries is condemned to die. David pleads for the life of the child, fasting for seven days. When he receives news the child is dead, he washes, changes clothes, worships God, and eats. His servants are surprised at his lack of mourning, but he explains that his fasting was his way of asking God to let the child live. Now that the child is dead, David accepts it as God’s just punishment.
But God does not abandon David. He and Bathsheba have another son, Solomon, who is also known as Jedidiah, “loved by the Lord.” The Lord also gives David victory over the Ammonites. David had fallen as low as one can go. God has raised him up.
Prayer
God of love, do not abandon us even when you punish us.
DR. GARY HOLLOWAY
Gary Holloway is Executive Director of the World Convention. Holding degrees from Freed-Hardeman, Harding, The University of Texas, and Emory University, he has written or edited thirty books, including (with Douglas Foster) Renewing God’s World: A Concise Global History of the Stone-Campbell Movement from ACU Press. He is married to Deb Rogers Holloway.
Amen..no abandonment!