Consequences and Miseries

 

2 Samuel 12.

It’s a sobering bit of text.

The sin identified and called out by Nathan the prophet to David the King.

Not only had David had an adulterous affair with another man’s wife, Bathsheba, but in addition he had the husband of this woman killed to cover up his crime.

But sin is not concealed from the eyes of the Lord.

He sees all.

And there are consequences for the sin we commit.

In the case before us today of King David, his price to pay would be the death of the child he had conceived with Bathsheba.

Once the Lord sent a deadly illness upon the child, David begged God to spare his life.  Scripture tells us that he went without food and laid on the bare ground all night contending for his son.  (verses 15-18)

But in the seventh day, the child died.

David’s advisors were afraid to tell him.  Considering what grief he had exhibited prior to his death, they were dangerously concerned this news would destroy him.

And yet it didn’t.

The Bible tells us that, “David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes.  He went to the tabernacle and worshipped the Lord.  After that he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.”  (verse 20)

His advisors were confused.  Scripture tells us that they were, “amazed.”  (verse 21)

But David knew God so well, that he knew there would be consequences for his wrongdoing.
And that was the death of his child conceived by deceit and sin.

David knew God’s heart so well and was so familiar with His work and His ways, that he did what only a man after God’s own heart can do, and that was to pick himself up, dust himself off, and press on to fulfill the calling of God on his life.

Easy?  No.
Possible?  Yes.

A reading of Psalm 51 will show us what the heart of a repentant man guilt-ridden by sin, looks like.  The one he wrote concerning the events found in 2 Samuel 12.

He says things like, “Have mercy on me, O God.”  (verse 1)
“Wash me clean; Purify me.”  (verse 2)
“I recognize my rebellion.”  (verse 3)
“It haunts me day and night.”  (verse 3)
“Give me back my joy again; you have broken me, now let me rejoice.”  (verse 8)
“Create in me a clean heart; Renew a loyal spirit in me.”  (verse 10)

The words penned in light of the tragedy experienced by the result of his sinfulness.

David had a choice.
Reside in the sin.
Live in the guilt.
Dwell in the miserableness of disobedience.

Or admit the failure.
Regain composure.
And “press on toward the prize.”

The choice was his.  And the same choice belongs to us.

The consequences of sin are God’s work.  But the miseries we experience consistent with the sin, are self inflicted.