When Life Shatters in Pieces

O. T. #711  "When Life Shatters in Pieces"
March 9, 2016
2 Samuel 12-Part 5
Then David confessed to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."  2 Samuel 12:13

LET IT GLOW

Words can stab you in the heart and cut it/you up into pieces. A bomb shell of words can be dropped on you and shatter your life. Whether they are the truth or not, intentional or not intentional, they can still be said causing you to drop to your knees, cutting your heart pieces and a life shattered because of another's sins. If it is something you have done, repentance is needful. If it is something another person has done, when your life has shattered into pieces, lift up your head to the One who can put those shattered pieces back together again. Offer your broken, bleeding pieces to Him. Jesus' love and grace can put it back together. Poor David experienced his life shattered into pieces due to his sins.

The prophet Nathan was given a message from God to give to King David. It was a very difficult one to deliver to his friend. He started off with a story about a rich man taking the poor man's one and only lamb to kill and eat with a guest. Then Nathan told David that he was the man. Those words were like an arrow that shot him in the heart.

Nathan continued to speak as God reminded David of all the things He had done for David and given him. Then David was stabbed in the heart with a sword of the truth with a question, "Why have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? You have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife."

Lastly, the bomb was dropped on David as he heard the punishment for his sins, "From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah's wife to be your own."

As if all of that were not enough to drop David's mouth open in utter shock as his secret sins were being told aloud, more was to come. David's household would rebel against him; his wives would be given to another man who would go to be with them in public view.

What David did in secret, God would make this all happen to him openly in the sight of all Israel. As silence filled the room, can you picture King David falling off his throne to his knees in repentance? As he looked up into the prophet's eyes, who had told the truth, David said the long awaited words, "I have sinned against the LORD."

Finally, David got it out, what he had been holding in for close to a year. He was without excuse, cover-up, or blame, pride stripped away, admitting his sin was all he could say, for Nathan knew and God knew the truth. It was humbly spoken in love and compassion. David was a broken man with a broken heart.

When we are confronted with the truth of our sins, do we rebel, denying it, or do we fall down before our Lord Jesus and His cross in repentance, admitting it? If God calls us to be the confronter, then do it with love and compassion as Nathan did. Speak the truth in love.


LET IT GROW

With that admission, restoration began. Nathan replied, "Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you will not die for this sin."

It was not Nathan who could forgive sin, but the LORD. Both men acknowledged that truth. It was a promise of grace-David would not die for his sins.
Friend, God has already provided for the penalty of our sin when Jesus Christ died on the cross. We do not have to pay for our sins. Have you come to the reality that you are a sinner in need of a Savior? I rejoice with you if you have repented. If you have not, I pray you will ask Him to forgive you of your sins and be your Savior, today, right now.

Before Nathan leaves the room, he pronounces the first of the consequences of David's sins-David's child mothered by Bathsheba would die because David had shown contempt for the LORD. The confrontation was over. Nathan left the room and closed the door behind him, leaving David on his knees before the Lord. Silence.

LET IT GO

Repent of my sins and failures.

Reach up for God's grace.

When my life shatters into pieces, turn to Jesus for healing.

Keep the faith in Him.