Daily Devotionals

Bride and Gloom Week 6: Friday

"This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 2 Samuel 12:11

Have you noticed how little children tend to rationalize bad behavior? When caught red-handed after doing something wrong, they state all kinds of reasons for doing what they did. My favorite excuse is that it was all their sibling's fault. Little children must learn that silly excuses do not make their bad behavior, especially unkindness to others. Sometimes we as adults must learn this truth, too, because God takes sin seriously, especially when we hurt the people around us.

We read in 2 Samuel 12 that although David tried to hide his sin when he took another man's wife as his own and had him killed, He could not hide from God. Even more, God took his sin very seriously. Shortly after David's son with Bathsheba was born, God sent a prophet named Nathan to call him out for his sin. Nathan told a story to David about two men, one who was rich and one who was poor (verse 1). The poor man owned only one lame that he had bought and raised. This lamb was like a member of this man's family (verse 3). One day the rich man took the poor man's lamb and killed it for him and his guest to eat (verse 4). David was furious at this story and said, "Any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!" (verse 5). Then, Nathan looked at David and said, "You are that man!" (verse 7). Next, Nathan explained how what he had done to Uriah and Bathsheba was like what the rich man in his story had done. He accurately told David that he had done a "horrible deed" (verse 9). God took this sin against Uriah and Bathsheba very, very seriously. It was not something that he could silently hide from. Nathaniel explained that he would face the consequences of his sin. One of the consequences was that he would "live by the sword" (verse 10). He would constantly be fighting in battle without much reprieve. After explaining the consequences of his sin, Nathaniel said, "You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel" (verse 12). David's secret sin would be revealed to all of Israel through the consequences he faced because of His sin.

God takes all our sins very seriously, especially our sins against other people. So we have to see our sins and wrong actions against others seriously. That means thinking before we choose to hurt others. It means taking our sins seriously when we do hurt someone and apologizing. Each person is loved and valued by God. So let's treat them the way God sees them.

Moving toward action

Who do you need to forgive today? Maybe you have been harboring frustration and feelings of unforgiveness against your spouse, a friend, or a family member. Whoever that person is, choose to forgive them today. This forgiveness does not mean you accept or tolerate unacceptable behavior, but it means that you are willing to forgive even though you have been hurt. It is a sign to them that you are willing to take steps to restore that relationship with them. It also points them to the love and forgiveness Christ offers to them.

Going Deeper

2 Samuel 12:1-12 (NLT)

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. 2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

5 David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”