In our previous message we have discussed David being blinded for what he had done and not really aware that the Lord actually knew what he was doing. For some reason he tried to hide it from people, but when the Lord sent Nathan to him David realised what he had done. You may read it in 1 Samuel 12:1-24 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2012:1-24&version=NIV1984.
Even while Nathan told the story of the rich man who stole the poor man’s lamb, David did not realise the story was about him. He even declared judgement on himself. How often does the Holy Spirit try and convict us that we are doing wrong and we simply don’t get it until He finally turns up the heat of our circumstances to get our attention. We have mentioned in our last message the breaking of the greatest commandment by living for your own comfort. Have you ever thought why we sometimes get trouble? What are the chances that the Holy Spirit uses that to try and get our attention in order to prompt us to love the Lord rather than ourselves?
The Lord would have loved to have a ‘Nathan’ to send to those He loves so much, but it seems in these modern days that not many of us are available to the Lord so He could use us to warn our brothers and sisters. “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over,” (Matthew 18:15-17). We seem scared to offend and of the ridicule we could get from the person we approach. The receiver of such a warning often seems not to have the right attitude to receive the warning with teachability and grace.
“Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:” and then Nathan spelled out in no uncertain terms what the Lord was about to do to David because of that deed http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%2012:7-12&version=NIV1984.
The David, the man after God’s own heart, sprang to life again. His eyes opened and he saw what he had done. In his position many of us might have looked for an excuse, a weakness we could fall back on – digging in the back of our minds for a way out of the situation. But...
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’
Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die,’” (verses 13-14).
Forgiveness was immediate, but because David’s behaviour caused people and evil spirits, who opposed God, to laugh at Him, the child had to die. Do our lifestyle and actions give those people, who oppose God, occasion to ridicule and laugh at Him? Does what we do in secret cause the evil spirits to ridicule God?
In verses fifteen to eighteen David made an effort to humble himself before the Lord in the hope that He may still show him grace and let the child live. David always had a humble attitude and was always ready to seek favour with the Lord through pleasing Him. When the child died he made peace with the fact that God has dealt with the situation according to His wisdom and love and he went on with his life (verses 20-23).
Real peace is to be in the Lord’s will. The only way we can be there is to find out what He wants from us and get to do it. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:6-7). Being out of God’s will brings anxiety, for we are likely to do wrong things, but by seeking His will for our lives by prayer, petition and thanksgiving we receive peace.
In our next message we have something very special.
Lord, I want to act according to your will.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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