(Read 2 Sam 11:1-13)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” I am led to bring out a few more things from the passage we covered yesterday. I will rehash what the Bible says and transition into gleaning a few more golden nuggets for today.
The prophet Nathan told David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. 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. 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.”
It took no time for David to find the error in the story. The King was immediately furious and vowed, “As surely as the LORD lives, any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.” David was completely caught of guard when Nathan said, “You are that man!”
The Lord then made it clear that He was behind David’s ascension to the throne and that He was displeased with David’s conduct. The Lord was basically disappointed that a man he had invested so much in would do such a thing. This does not take away from the sovereignty of God. God, of course, knew David would do this before the foundations of the world. But the fact that God would express his disappointment anyway is worth mentioning and worthy learning from. All David could say was, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s see to glean a few more golden nuggets from this.
1. It’s always easier to see the error in someone else. When Nathan told David the story of the rich man with plenty of sheep who decided to take a poor man’s only lamb, David quickly identified the error in the rich man. It was easy for David to see, just as long as he was not identifying the story with himself. Once he was told that he was the rich man in the story, he immediately felt the shame of his actions. Too bad he could not recognize the error BEFORE he did it. The lesson here is to judge yourself, and your actions, so that you won’t need to be judged by God.
2. Learn to be content. David went after something he had plenty of. Furthermore, God also made it clear that if he wanted more wives He would have given them to David. David had plenty, and God was willing to give him more, but he foolishly chose to go after something that was not his. Why? One of the reasons is that although he had plenty, David was not content with what he had. Paul said, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little” (Phil 4:11,12)
3. The Lord has an expectation of you. The Lord knew David would not be perfect, but this did not give David a free-pass. The Lord expected David to make every attempt to live a life pleasing in His sight and the Lord has the same expectation of you. The Lord knows you are not perfect and you will never be perfect. That is why He saved you by His Grace. But His Grace does not give you a free-pass. The fact that He loves you by Grace does not mean that He has NO expectations of you. He placed purpose down inside of you and He expects you to FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH that purpose. He expects you to walk in His ways and to fulfill his commands. And He will help you every step of the way, not because you are so good, but because He is.
4. Humble yourself or be humbled by God. If David had humbled himself and ‘shook off’ his sexual urges when he saw Bathsheba, he would not have committed the heinous act he did. David had gotten to the point where he thought he could do anything he wanted. He was king, he saw a woman, he wanted her, so he took her, even though he knew she was married to one of his men. David failed to humble himself, so he got humbled by God. Peter said, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). James said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). Take it from me, I have humbled myself before God and I have been humbled by God. I have experienced both and the former is much better than the latter. If you humble yourself you won’t need to be humbled by God. When you humble yourself, instead of humbling you, the Lord will actually exalt you!
Closing Confession: Father, I know it is much easier to see error in someone else than it is to see error in our own ways, however, I want to know when I am wrong. Just like I actively seek to correct my children when they go astray, I welcome Your correction and I want to know when I am wrong. I search myself and my ways and I ask You to highlight to me where I am wrong, so that I can repent and be right in Your sight. I want to live a life that is pleasing in Your sight and I declare by faith that I will. I learn to be content with what I have and with whom You have made me to be. I maximize all You give me and I don’t despise what You have blessed me with by coveting the gifts and possessions of others. I run my race, because I know I only have Grace for my specific race. Other people have their own race, with their own Grace. I appreciate what You are doing in others, but I let them run their race and I focus on my own. You have an expectation of me and I seek to live up to it. I live a holy and dedicated life. I humble myself before Your mighty hand. I humble myself, so that You don’t have to humble me. Since I am willing to humble myself, and since You don’t have to humble me, You in turn exalt me in due season. You look down and see the humility of my ways and You lift me up in Your timing. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
