Restoration of the Soul

Though God created the world and all of humanity, it has been distorted by sin in the same way that David’s life became distorted. However, because David allowed the Word of God to humble him, and he repented of his sin, God took his sin away; that did not, however, remove the consequences of his sin. Nonetheless, God restored David’s soul, and his joy returned.

The first terrible consequence of what David had done was that the child born from his adultery would die (2 Samuel 12:14). David was a changed man, and his behavior demonstrated that change. The impact of the word of the Lord that Nathan had spoken to him, David’s repentance, and God’s forgiveness brought the change. “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground” (2 Samuel 12:16). The man who had no need to talk to God finally sought God on behalf of the newly born child.

David knew that the child’s sickness was his fault.  David knew that his son’s sickness had to do with God’s disapproval of what he had done. David prayed, “Have mercy on me, Lord, and so have mercy on the child.” Even though God had promised to hang a sword over David’s house, David still found God approachable. On the contrary, the grace of God that “put away” David’s sin gave David the confidence to seek him. When we go through a trial, it should not make us turn away from God but to him. David fasted and prayed for the child for a week. However, after the child died, he resumed his everyday life. This puzzled everyone.

David believed that God was in charge, even though he did not understand everything he did. David explained his behavior: “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).

David did not know what God, in his kindness, might do. As far as he knew, the Lord may have permitted the child to live. David had experienced God’s grace, and that is what he sought.

David prayed because God had been gracious to him, but not because he knew in this matter whether God would or would not grant his request.” This is a prayer to the Almighty, seeking mercy, yet knowing that whatever God does will be the best. This is the part that is so difficult for us to believe. As Jesus taught us, “Thy Will Be Done!” David’s acceptance of his child’s death indicates contentment with God’s wisdom and trust in His goodness.

David’s restoration as a man and as king was remarkable. It was not perfect, and it was not complete. But it was enough to point us to the kingdom of God in which all things will be put back in their proper order. At the very heart of the restoration of all things is the forgiveness of sins. The Lord Jesus Christ restores people who come to him, just as he will one day gloriously restore all things. Paul wrote: “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

People need Jesus more than they need anything else. They need forgiveness for their sins, they need relief from their shame and guilt, and rest from their labor. Jesus brings that. The problems people face often exceed their ability to solve. The reason is that we cannot straighten out what is broken—only God can do that. Jesus invited us to come and find the restorations we need: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). When we humble ourselves, God does his work of grace in our lives.

 

You Are The Man

Sixty-two chapters are dedicated to David in the scriptures—more than any other person; also, there are 59 references to David in the New Testament. Undoubtedly, David is one of the most important people in the Bible. David is there for his life, his courage, his faithfulness, and his humility, but he is also here for his failure and his sinfulness. Most of all, he is there for the confrontation with God’s Word, his acknowledgement, and finally his restoration. He is there so we can learn from what he did right and what he did wrong.

A huge pitfall for us as believers is familiarity with the word of God. Christians sometimes reach a point where God’s word no longer disturbs them. It never convicts or rebukes them. Paul told Timothy that the Word of God should correct, rebuke, and encourage us.

Praise God for every man and woman of God who faithfully brings God’s Word every week to their congregations. In the story of David, God had a prophet named Nathan whom he sent with a word for David. Nathan brought God’s word, and it was so powerful that it shattered David’s heart. David had convinced himself that what he had done was okay. He had committed adultery and murder and covered it all up.

David thought things were hidden, but they were not: “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). Imagine a person driving down the road in their car and their instrument warning light comes on, letting them know that the vehicle has a problem with the oil pressure. Oil is what lubricates the engine and keeps it going. Without proper oil pressure, the engine will burn itself up and destroy the engine block. Irritated that this is happening, they don’t pull over to stop the car and investigate the problem, but instead grab a roll of masking tape and put it over the light. Now they feel much better and believe they have solved the problem. They continue on, but all the while, they are now doing severe damage to the car and will ultimately destroy the engine. This is what a person does who ignores true guilt.

Nathan was sent by God in God’s time and in God’s way. Nathan was known by David and respected by David. Nathan prepared himself in terms of what he would say and how he would say it. Truly, Nathan was sent by God! Nathan was a brave and courageous man of God. To confront the king about his sin could have meant his own death sentence. This prophet, however, was more concerned about offending God than the king.

Nathan tells a story about two men in a particular town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many possessions and large herds of animals, but the poor man had only one small ewe lamb that he treated like a daughter. David was immediately drawn in by the story because it was presented as something that had really happened. At this stage, however, David was hearing about a poor man who was contented and happy with his home life.

When a traveler came to see the rich man, he took the little ewe lamb from his neighbor, killed it, and prepared it for his guest (2 Samuel 12:4). Upon hearing the story, David became angry and declared that the rich man deserved to die and pay the poor man fourfold.  “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6). The story was David’s story, but he did not realize it. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. (2 Samuel 12:7).

The prophet Nathan faced the king whom the Lord had chosen and pronounced judgment, “Nathan said to David, `You are the man!” With hard-hitting force, Nathan confronted David. The situation on which the king had pronounced his furious verdict was his own situation. The story was a mirror revealing David’s own wickedness. David was shown his sin and his wickedness and then Nathan said, “You are the man!” 

God was speaking to David’s conscience, “You are the man, David!” David repented, and God forgave him and put his sin away. However, terrible consequences followed David and his family for his sin.  We should remember that when God forgives us, it does not stop the consequences.

We All Have The Capacity of Evil

The difference between Saul and David was like night and day. David loved God and followed him. Saul was disobedient to God and despised David because he enjoyed God’s blessings. David was a different king—different from Saul and distinct from any other king because he was God’s king. However, the temptation that came with being king was too much for even David.

The story told to us in 2 Samuel 11 is one of the ugliest stories in the Bible. David saw a woman bathing from the roof of his palace. He inquired who she was and found out that she was married. That should have stopped David, but it didn’t. Knowing that, he had her brought to him and committed adultery with her. Everything returned to normal as she returned home. Then David received a message from the woman stating she was pregnant. Immediately, David arranged things so that everyone would think the child belonged to her husband.

This horrible story demonstrates that David was no better than Saul. David had the capacity to do evil, as we all do, much greater than he ever thought. As king, he reverted into a Saul. He saw, took, and now sought to cover up his sin. His plans failed because of the integrity of Uriah. So after several attempts to cover up his sin, he resorted to murder.

It seems unbelievable that David, a man after God’s own heart, would do this. The deceitfulness of the human heart is on full display in David’s attempts to hide the truth from God. David was in a state of mind that made his behavior seem acceptable. David wrote a letter and sent it by the hand of Uriah, the husband of the woman: “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die” (2 Samuel 11:15). One step after another, David had dug himself deeper into deception. Now he was planning a conspiracy to deliberately execute an innocent man to protect himself. We can hardly believe this is the same David who refused to shed blood to defend himself, but now resorted to murder to cover up his own sin.

Joab, his commander, implemented David’s command to camouflage the murder. What David really wanted was accomplished. However, in doing so, other innocent soldiers also died in the folly David had planned. Among those who fell that day was the one who was a problem for David:   “…Moreover, Uriah the Hittite died” (2 Samuel 11:17)

When David was told what had happened, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab (2 Samuel 11:25). What David and Joab did was fine in their own eyes, but it wasn’t in God’s eyes. The account closes with these words: “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). This story should shock us all to remember that we all have the capacity to do evil. Only in humility and with God’s help will we be able to refrain ourselves against the temptations of the flesh. This is war in ourselves, we cannot win, only with God’s help will we be victorious.

Jesus Calms The Storm

The Sea of Galilee is only five miles wide and thirteen miles long, but it is known for its sudden storms. The sea is surrounded by mountains with deep ravines. These ravines bring the winds whirling down upon the lake without notice.

The miracle of Jesus calming the sea, as related by Luke in chapter 8, occurred at the end of a long day of ministry, and it was now time to rest. Jesus directed his disciples to sail to the other side of the lake, although they did not know that a storm was brewing. Jesus got in the boat and found a place in the stern of the boat, where he fell fast asleep. The disciples began the journey across the lake in the calm evening hours.

The storm that came to the boat carrying the disciples and Jesus was planned and sent by God. It was the instrument that God would use to teach the disciples a valuable lesson on faith and trust. Without difficulties, we would never grow to be what we should become. Storms are part of the process of spiritual growth both then and now.

Perhaps such a storm is raging in your life. You are in the middle of it now, and it feels like you are about to drown. We have all been there at some point. It may be a family problem, your business, a health problem, or a problem with a child. Whatever the trial, if you ask God to meet you in your distress, he can bring the calm and peace you need. 

The disciples woke him, saying, “Jesus, we’re going to drown!” (Luke 8:24). They were afraid that all of them, including Jesus, would die. They thought that everything, even their hopes for the future, would go in an instant. The irony of the moment is shocking because, despite having been with Jesus for some time, witnessing numerous miracles, listening fervently to his teaching, and even seeing him raise the dead, they thought this was the end.

The storm did not wake Jesus, but his doubting disciples did. Jesus acted immediately: He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm” (Luke 8:24). The wind immediately stopped. It was a sudden calm. The sea was also calmed instantaneously. Then Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?”(Luke 8:25).

The question was a rebuke.  Although their fear was natural and took over, they were embarrassed by their lack of faith. They had seen too much of his power, and they knew he was the Messiah. But in their fear, they had abandoned their faith. How like us. Fear comes, and all the reasons for trust evaporate, even though God has quelled many storms in our lives.  

But now, as they rode the calm sea, their faith returned. So, “In fear and amazement, they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25). What a moment! What an experience to see Jesus speak to the wind and the waves and watch them obey. This same Jesus is with us each day!