…and coming out vibrant on the other end
King David is an example of how to go through a deep, deep sorrowful experience. Be it – bearing the effects of our sin, or, experiencing personal tragedy, or, being racked by the numbing sorrow of death in the family – we can overcome.
Confusing tunnels of sorrow, confusion, sin, or tragedy
Dark Tunnel Times
King David shows us how
we can come out the other end of dark times,
out of that dark tunnel of sorrow,
confusion, sin,
or tragedy.
David sinned against God. References: 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 1:28; 2 Samuel 12:13-14; 2 Samuel 12:15-23.
King David sinned:
(1st) Putting himself in an environment of “lack of accountability” – by staying home alone when he should have been out leading his kingdom’s soldiers at war (fulfilling his job obligations). He made himself vulnerable to sinning, as we can be with “the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1);
(2nd) Seeking after voyeurism – yielding to his lusts. (27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28).
(3rd) Fornicating with Bathsheba: Doing what he wanted regardless of the wrong of it.
(4th) Murdering the husband of his lover. Getting his own way “by hook or by crook” (definition).
King David eventually repented of his sinfulness, and then, in mourning, he covered himself in ashes. David went to God in prayer. He acknowledged the results of his sin, repented of that sin, and when the crises or sorrowful event was past, then he showered, dressed for the day, and started normal life again, with his heart seeking after God.
The same for us. In a time of weakness, confusion, sin, sorrow or tragic event… how do you cope? We can mourn. And then we can honestly repent.
In Christ we can find perfect peace. Repenting is vital for any peaceful easy feeling. When the morning dawn breaks anew, we get over it, draw near to God, get on with it, and live life with vibrancy as before.
King David was plagued for years with heavy temptations to sin. But he always repented of his sin, and drew near to God again. God forgives the truly repentant.
After sin, which is a choice we made, another choice always presents itself:
Whether:
(1) to continue in sin, or
(2) to repent of (“turn around”, go away from) our sin.
King David always chose to seek after God and His ways. How about you? 1
FOR MORE:
Excerpt: A good life habit is to always go to God in prayer. Make it a habit to pray often. Then you are already on your knees (in your heart) when disaster or struggles hit! God cares. He understands. Do you trust Him? He will give you peace.
The truth of what the prophet Isaiah said, is basically:
[Using the Amplified Bible version of Isaiah 26:3 and my words:]
Because I take refuge in God–
I trust fully in God
with hope and confident expectation
deep inside who I am in my soul,
and I keep
my mind
controlled and focused
on God Himself,
He Himself
will maintain
in me
a constant state
of balance and peace.
Why all my pain and sorrow, my sickness and worries?
The secret of facing both plenty and hunger, abundance and need
We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Psalm 51 type of repentance and salvation
What’s your problem?
…What is keeping you from yielding to God? What is it about “your way” that is so appealing?
When we face difficult times in our life
We are pressured in every way, but not crushed
Befuddled and Besmirched…Gossip is quite common
Footnotes
- References: 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Kings 1:28; 2 Samuel 12:13-14; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; 2 Samuel 12:13-14
13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die.14 However, since by this deed you have shown utter disrespect for the [j] Lord, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die.”
2 Samuel 12:15-23
Later the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s [a] widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.17 The elders of his household stood beside him in order to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them.
18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to [b] us. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm?”
19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they served him food, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was [c] alive; but when the child died, you got up and ate food.”
22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’23 But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I am going to him, but he will not return to me.”
2 Samuel 12:24 – [David sleeps with his wife, Bathsheba, and they have a child, called Solomon.]
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and slept with her; and she gave birth to a [second] son, and [a]he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him.
Leave a Reply