July 8, 2010 (2 Samuel 11-12, I Chronicles 20, Psalm 32, 51, 86, 122)

Today's reading was about David's 'big sin', and the story starts out with:

"The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites."

That little phrase "the time of year when kings go to war" - David was king. He should have been with his men. But he chose to stay home - not fulfill his duties as king. It goes on to say, "Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap...." - What's the saying? Idle hands are the devil's workshop? There are all kinds of problems with what David is doing. And I think it all started with him being in a 'spiritual slump', that grew to a bigger problem. And it stems back to unfaithfulness. He was unfaithful to his 'kingly duties' - he should have gone to war with his men. Sometimes we don't "feel" like doing what we are supposed to do. But we need to do it anyway. But he chose not to and suffered the consequences. You know the story - He was walking around on his roof, saw a beautiful woman, knew she was married and her husband was fighting the war, called for her, slept with her, she became pregnant, he tried to cover it up by calling her husband back to give a report to him about the progress, her husband wouldn't go home because he was too honorable to sleep with her while his men were sleeping in tents (a direct slam against David), David had him fight on the front lines, he was killed, David married his wife, the baby was born, God sent Nathan the prophet to tell David how displeased He was about all David did, God punished him by making the baby deathly ill, the baby died, David recognized the error of his ways and repented.

But the story doesn't really end there. Not only was Uriah (the husband) killed in the fighting, other men died as a direct consequence of them being ordered to fight up front. And not only did the baby die, but here are the other consequences from God:

^{2 Samuel 12:7} 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. ¹²You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”

God cannot and will not be mocked. For those who know His requirements, there are consequences for sin. And our sin not only affects ourselves, it affects others.

And then, on a positive note, ANOTHER Psalm that has now replaced the others:

^{Psalm 86:1} Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need your help.
² Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
³ Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
⁴ Give me happiness, O Lord,
for my life depends on you.
⁵ O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
⁶ Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
⁷ I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me.

⁸ No pagan god is like you, O Lord.
None can do what you do!
⁹ All the nations - and you made each one -
will come and bow before you, Lord;
they will praise your great and holy name.
¹⁰ For you are great and perform great miracles.
You alone are God.

¹¹ Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
that I may honor you.
¹² With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
¹³ for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death.

¹⁴ O God, insolent people rise up against me;
violent people are trying to kill me.
And you mean nothing to them.
¹⁵ But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
full of unfailing love and truth.
¹⁶ Look down and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant;
yes, save me, for I am your servant.
¹⁷ Send me a sign of your favor.
Then those who hate me will be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.