A Model Of The Repentant Sinner

Hi! and happy weekend to al of us, GUYS.  For this Saturday's "food for the soul":

THE GOOD NEWS (30 January 2016)

"So YAHWEH sent the prophet Nathan to David.  Nathan went to the king and said to him, 'There were two men in a city: one was rich; the other, poor.  The rich man had many sheep and cattle, but the poor man had only one little ewe lamb he had bought.  He himself fed it and it grew up with him and his children.  It shared his food, drank from his cup and slept on his lap.  It was like a daughter to him.  Now a traveler came to the rich man, but he would not take from his own flock or herd to prepare food for the traveler.  Instead, he took the poor man's lamb and prepared that for his visitor.'

David was furious because of this man and told Nathan, 'As YAHWEH lives, the man who has done this deserves death!  He must return the lamb fourfold for acting like this and showing no compassion.'

Nathan said to David, 'You are this man!  It is YAHWEH, GOD of Israel, who speaks: 'I anointed you king over Israel and saved you from Saul's hands; I gave you your master's house and your master's wives; I also gave you the nation of Israel and Judah.  But if these were not enough, I would have given you even more.  Why did you despise YAHWEH by doing what displeases HIM?  You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife for yourself.  Yes, you killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.  Now the sword will never be far from your family because you have despised ME and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite for yourself. 

Nathan And King David

Thus says YAHWEH:  Your misfortune will rise from your own house!  I will take your wives from you and give them to your neighbor who shall lie with them in broad daylight.  What you did was done secretly, but what I do will be done before Israel in broad daylight.'

David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against YAHWEH.'  Nathan answered him, 'YAHWEH has forgiven your sin; you shall not die.  However, because you have dared to despise YAHWEH by doing such a thing, the child that is born to you shall die.'  Then Nathan left and went to his house.

YAHWEH struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David and it became sick.  David  entreated GOD for the child; he kept a strict fast  and lay on the ground the whole night.  The elders of his house asked him to rise from the ground but he refused.  Nor did he join them to eat." - 2 Samuel 12:1-17 

The Repentant Sinner, King David

( David will be a model of the repentant sinner.  Why did you despise the word of YAHWEH?  What has David done that GOD should choose him?  Everything in his life has been the work of YAHWEH'S love.  GOD chose a simple shepherd to make him king.  Even more, he chose this "king" from a small nation, to establish the permanent kingdom.  There are no excuses for David.

You did what displeases me.  David easily forgets that YAHWEH does not look for external ceremonies, but rather for purity of heart and justice to the neighbor. 

You killed Uriah and took his wife.  GOD brings into broad daylight what David had hidden from everyone and from his own conscience.

David's attitude: he humbly acknowledges his sin and accepts the consequences of his fault.  Psalm 51, the moving prayer of a repentant sinner, is attributed to him.

GOD's attitude:

          - GOD has forgiven your sin.  GOD remains faithful and keeps HIS promises to David's descendants.  More than that, Solomon, son of Bathsheba and David, will be the beneficiary of the promises mentioned: GOD will let grace pass through where sin had passed.

          - Your misfortune will rise from your own house.  In pardoning, GOD does not erase the consequences of the crime.

The child born out of love between David and Bathsheba falls sick and dies.  The king realizes that this is another sign to make him understand the gravity of his sin.  GOD is not vindictive nor does HE bear grudges.  HIS heart is not like ours.  HE is "slow to anger and no one surpasses HIM in kindness."

Another child is born of the same woman, now his wife; it is the future king Solomon, whom GOD chooses to succeed David.  In spite of his sin, GOD has not abandoned David.)