Forgiveness & Consequences
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against theLord.’ Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going todie. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show uttercontempt, the son born to you will die’” (2 Samuel 12:13-14).
The complete story is in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12.
David’s sins were awful. He violated the clear commands ofGod “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,” “You shall not murder,” “Youshall not commit adultery.”
David, in order to hide his adultery, had Uriah called homefrom the front in order to attribute Bathsheba’s pregnancy to him. David wasconcocting a lie that did not work. David sent him to his home and sent him agift. Uriah did not go home. The next day David gave a dinner for Uriah andmade Uriah drunk. He did not go home. So David had him killed and then took hiswife.
David did not confess. He was still hiding his sins (orthought he was.) He was then confronted by Nathan the prophet. Before Davidconfessed, Nathan prophesied awful consequences. After he confessed anotherconsequence was prophesied. David did repent of his sins. David was forgiven. Theconsequences did happen. The baby son died. One of his other sons raped one ofhis daughters. Another son killed the son who raped the daughter. That son wasthen exiled. He was returned from exile, conspired against his father, theking, and openly committed adultery with his fathers concubines. That son wasthen killed. How do we know that David was forgiven? “Then I acknowledged mysin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess mytransgressions to the Lord’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin’” (Psalm 32:5).
“Have mercy on my, O God, according to your unfailing love;according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all myiniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sinis always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evilin your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified whenyou judge…. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will bewhiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushedrejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in mea pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast mefrom your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy ofyour salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…. Save me frombloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of yourrighteousness…. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you donot take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a brokenspirit; a broken and contrite heart, O god, you will not despise” (Psalm51:1-4, 7-12, 14, 16-17).
David did not minimize his sins. He realized his sins wereagainst God only. David counted on the greatness of God’s mercy, love andcompassion. He knew he would not be forgiven by ritual repentance.
David had the joy of forgiven sins but still had to face theresults of his sins.
Written in 1999.
How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships
