Crushed and Broken

O. T. #712  "Crushed and Broken"
March 10, 2016
2 Samuel 12-Part 5, Psalm 51


LET IT GLOW

 After David confessed that he had sinned against the LORD, Nathan assured him that the LORD forgives. Nevertheless, because David showed contempt to the LORD, his child would die.

Nathan had a very difficult task of confrontation. What can we learn about his technique of effectiveness?

Charles Swindoll, in his book David, advises us how to equip ourselves before we confront someone: We need to confront in absolute truth, right timing, wise wording, and fearless courage.

Now, take a look at Psalm 51 with me. It is said of this psalm that David wrote it after Nathan confronted him about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba.
What can we learn from David's experience?

• David asks for mercy from God, who has unfailing love and great compassion. (verse 1)
• He desires to be washed clean and purified from his guilt and sin. (verse 2)
• David recognizes his rebellion. (verse 3)
• He admits that it was against only God that he sinned and did evil in his sight. (verse 4)
• David admits that God's words are true and His judgment is just. (verse 4)
• In his brokenness, David asks God: Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. (verse 7)
• Create in me a clean heart, O God. (verse 10)
• Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. (verse 12)
• The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. (verse 17)

Have we been there, whether it is due to our sin or another's sin?
Is our spirit crushed and broken, as well as in need of healing?
Do any of us need restoration of the joy of Jesus' salvation?


LET IT GROW

How can we know repentance is genuine?

• There will be open, unguarded admission, without holding back the truth.
• There is a desire to make a complete break from sin. Repentance is a complete turning around.
• The spirit is broken and humble, with grief over what was done.
• True repentance is a claiming of God's forgiveness and reinstatement. God's grace was available and David was allowed to live on. (Swindoll)

1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He restores; He gives light to darkness. Its His breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to You, holy God. Great are You Lord!

LET IT GO

Confess and repent and turn from the sin.

Trust Jesus' cleansing and forgiveness.

Never give up.

God loves us.

Praise God for His forgiveness and cleansing.

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.

From This Time On

O. T. #710  "From This Time On"
March 8, 2016
2 Samuel 12-Part 4
From this time on...   2 Samuel 12:10

LET IT GLOW

Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite and with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.

Nathan was delivering the message from God to David. Now comes the punishment for David's sin. From this time on:

• David's family would live by the sword because he despised the word of the LORD by taking Uriah's wife to be his own; (verse 10)
• Because of what David did, God would cause his household to rebel against him; (verse 11)
• God would give David's wives to another man before his very eyes; (verse 11)
• That man would go to bed with them in public view; (verse 11)
• David did it secretly, but God will make it happen to David openly in the sight of all Israel. (verse 12)

Do we ever despise the Word of God, especially when it camps on our doorstep?
Are we ever ready to hear or experience our reprimand from God?
Does our household suffer because of our wrong ways, attitudes, actions, and sins?
If our secret sins were viewed on a super huge screen, what would been seen? How would we react?

LET IT GROW

Those promises from God came true for David, from that time on. There was to be a four-fold restitution according to the law (Exodus 22:1).
Life Application Study Bible informs us:

1. Murder was a constant threat in David's family. (13:26-29; 18:14-15; 1 Kings 2:23-25)
2. David's household rebelled against him. (15:13)
3. His wives were given to another in public. (16:20-23)
4. David's first child by Bathsheba died.(12:18)

All of this happened as the prophet Nathan had predicted:

• The baby died; Absalom killed Amnon, who had ruined Tamar; Joab killed Absalom; Adonijah was slain by Benaiah. (four-fold)
• Absalom lead a rebellion against David.
• Also, Absalom set up a tent on the roof and slept with 10 of his father's concubines there.
• Adonijah set himself up as king before David's death; his plot was exposed, and David spared his life, but his half brother Solomon later had him executed.

David is confronted with the truth of his sins and what would happen, and then he lived it. I wonder if the words of Nathan rang in his head every time those events happened. For this time on...

The consequences of sin affect not only us but those we know and love. Let us remember that the next time we are tempted to sin.

Can we see the consequences of sin in our own family, with ancestors and descendants? Perhaps it is not the same sins as David, but other sins that had just as serious effect. From this time on, what will our children and grandchild do because of us?

LET IT GO of whatever secret sin is in my life and your life right now.

Facing the Truth

O. T. #709  "Facing the Truth"
March 7, 2016
2 Samuel 12-Part 3
Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed?
 2 Samuel 12:9

LET IT GLOW

It is not an easy thing to be taken to the woodshed. Disciplining our children is not a pleasant task, but needful. It is because we love them that we make them accountable for their actions and words. We teach them the difference between right and wrong. Neither is it an easy thing to accept when God corrects us. The prophet Nathan had a difficult task, but was successful. David experienced the rebuke, facing the truth. God was not about to let His beloved child David get away with sin.
What David did displeased the Lord. He broke several commandments: the tenth, dealing with coveting (Ex. 20:17), the seventh concerning adultery (Ex. 20:14), and the sixth prohibiting murder (Ex. 20:13).

You are the man, David! The prophet Nathan told David a story illustrating his situation of sin.
God's message to David included:

• God anointed him as king over Israel. This was the highest honor man could have had at that time.
• God saved, delivered, rescued David from the power of Saul so he might deliver Israel.
• God gave him his master's house and wives.
• God gave him the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. 
• If that had not been enough, God would have given David much more.

First, God focused on all that He had done for David. If it had not been for God, David would not be in the position that he was in, right? He would still be in the fields tending sheep. but God raised up this shepherd to shepherd His people, and he failed to set the example they needed.

David could have had anything his heart desired and yet he betrayed the trust put in him and sinned. (Falwell)

It is always good to stop and acknowledge that all we have and are is from God, not our doing. That changes our pride heart into a humble and thankful heart. God is our provider, El Shaddah.


LT IT GROW

With that established, God continues into David's personal business (sin).

Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. (verse 9)

God knew just the right words to stab David in the heart. What could he say but "Guilty, Lord."
God's word is truth and He always speaks the truth. Sometimes we don't like being confronted with the truth. It can cut our heart out like a two-edged sword. David knows he can't hide anything from God, so there is no use in offering excuses, placing the blame on Bathsheba. David was responsible for David's actions, and so are we.

In Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, despised means to contemn, scorn.
In Webster's Dictionary, despised means to look down on with contempt or aversion; to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful; to scorn, disdain.

What a strong accusation! Despised is a strong word. Nathan's message was God's conviction. David despised and regarded god's commandments by breaking them.
Did David's pride and strong will melt away as he heard the truth about him? Did he fall to his knees in repentance? It was not until verse 13 that David confessed. First, he had to listen to the punishment coming. That is next time for us to discuss.

When faced with the truth, we either rebel or repent, I say. We cannot hide anything from God, for He is all-seeing and all-knowing. What we do in secret, in the dark, is seen by God. It is always difficult to face the truth, face up to what we have done wrong, isn't it?

So remember, sweet one, you are loved by God. That is why He takes us to the woodshed to deal with our sin. He knows our sin will only make things worse for us, so we need to confess it.

LET IT GO

Prayer time.

Listen to God and repent.

Correction is Difficult

O. T. #708  "Correction is Difficult"
March 4, 2016
2 Samuel 12-Part 2
Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man!"  2 Samuel 12:7

LET IT GLOW

Correction is not pleasant to receive or give, but correction is difficult either way. If we have lived long enough, we have experienced it ourselves, with our children, and with and workers. David experiences it in today's lesson.

There was no one to say, "David, you are in sin." That is until God told the prophet Nathan to go and tell him. That would have been an extremely difficult assignment. He had to stand before the most powerful man in Israel and tell him what he was refusing to admit-the truth.

The Lord must have given Nathan the illustrative story which applied to David's circumstances, for he began his confrontation with it.
What was the story about?

• It contrasted to men, one rich and one poor.
• The rich man owned many sheep and cattle.
• However, the poor man only owned one little lamb he bought.
• This lamb was raise up with his children, ate from the man's plate and drank from his cup. (verse 2)
• The poor man cuddled it in his arms like his baby daughter. (verse 3)
• One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man, so he needed to kill an animal for their dinner. Instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, the rich man took the poor man's lamb, killed it, and prepared it for his guest.

As David intently listened to Nathan, he became furious. Maybe he thought that scenario occurred in Jerusalem. This moved David with compassion for the poor man who lost his lamb.

Are folks so blinded by their pride that they cannot see themselves in Nathan's story? Are they too busy, cold, or heartless to see beyond our own nose to see the needs of others? They take from others what they should not. If these do not apply to you, please do not take offense. It's just that we need to see things as they are, not as they appear. People can have their priorities mixed up, can't they? Lust and temptation win out so many times, tearing apart marriages and families.
Are we treating our own family better or worse than we treat others in the world? They should be treated the best, since they love us the most.

LET IT GROW

How did David respond to Nathan's story?

• He said that a man who would do such a thing deserved to die. (verse 5)
• He said the rich man should repay the poor man with four lambs. (verse 6, NLT)

David sentenced himself with those words! Confrontation is the best solution for a person hiding a secret sin. Although, it takes a loving and caring friend to do it successfully so they admit their sin and not become defensive, resulting in repentance to God.

You are that man David!

Don't you know David's heart sunk to his feet when he heard those words. The truth is, David  stole Uriah's wife and murdered Uriah.
His sense of justice was still alive and well, but he lost the ability to see his on sin. (D. Jeremiah)

In other words, Nathan was saying, "You're the one who said to that stranger called lust, "I'll take someone else's lamb, and I'll satisfy my desires with her." (Swindoll)

According to the Mosaic Law, both adultery (Lev. 20:10) and murder (Lev. 24:17) required punishment by death. In pronouncing this judgment on the rich man in the story, David unwittingly condemned himself to death.  (MacArthur)

What David had done displeased the Lord (11:27). The literal rendering of displeased the LORD is:
"was evil in the eyes of the LORD." (MacArthur)

The Lord's perspective matters the most. It is painful when the Lord takes us to the woodshed. We will see what happens to David as a result of his trip to the woodshed by God. It can be a good lesson for us and others.

LET IT GO

Learn from others mistakes.

Listen when I need to be corrected.

Keep a soft heart and repent.

A Slowly Grinding Wheel

O. T. #707  "A Slowly Grinding Wheel"
March 3, 2016
2 Samuel 12
so the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David...  2 Samuel 12:1


LET IT GLOW

Have you ever seen a water wheel that was used to grind wheat or corn, or gears turning large industrial machines used in past centuries? I have seen a few around our country. These wheels/gears turn slowly and at a steady pace. One would think that speed would be better, but not so. The job is eventually accomplished. David's life is an example.

Ohhh, can we move now? David's plan A and B failed and he devised plan C, which resulted in murder. He took Bathsheba as his wife. Can we close the book on that hideous story? Can we pick up in chapter 12 and move on? Have a battle or Well, months and perhaps a year passed by, some think. This escapade is not over yet. Hang in there with me friends.

The Bible is truthful and trustworthy in all its content. (Falwell)

God could have left out all this bad stuff in David's life, but He didn't. Is its purpose to be a lesson for us to learn, a warning?

Let's think about it. David's secret sin with Bathsheba and then the murdering of her husband was not actually a secret. David's messengers and counselors knew about his adultery; Joab knew about David's order to send Uriah to the front of the battle so he would be killed. And then there was God who was displeased with what David had done. (11:7)

Someone once said, "God's wheels grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine."

During this long period of David's cover up and deception, he described his feelings in Psalm32 and 51.

Wiersbe describes David as:

• weak and sick physically;
• lost his joy;
• lost his witness;
• lost his power;
• given time to repent by God before his reprimand and judgment.

So many folks pretend all is right with the world when it is not. Do people think they get away with sin when bad things do not result right away in their life?  Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:7 that we reap what we sow.

LET IT GROW

Well, no one else did any thing about he king's sin but God. In His timing He send Nathan with a very, very difficult message intended to bring David to his knees of repentance. David's life was not filled with delightful nights with his new wife guilt free. His vitality was drained (Ps. 32:3-4).

Swindoll describes David as:

• David was a miserable husband,
• an irritable father,
• a poor leader,
• a songless composer,
• living a lie and he couldn't escape the truth;
• unstable, inferior, and insecure.

God's timing is absolutely incredible. He let the grinding wheels of sin do their full work and then He stepped in. (Swindoll)

Our secret sins are open before God. (McGee)

To be honest, there are times that I think God is so slow in intervening, changing the situation or person, answering my prayers like I think He should.  So by faith I endure, hang in there, continue on as I should. He is still on the throne, in control, a great, loving and merciful God. For reasons known only to Him, He delays it, doing the right thing at the right time. I keep reminding myself that His way is best. Do I hear an amen?

Waiting for a loved one to come to repentance or belief in Jesus' salvation is difficult, I won't deny it. Even trying to make relationships good when the other person is so rebellious-oh the waiting. Take hope, God loves us and always will.

LET IT GO

Daily forgive others and not keep a record.

Daily repent of my sins.

Wait on God's timing.

Plan C

O. T. #706  "Plan C"
March 2, 2016
2 Samuel 11-Part 6
So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.
 2 Samuel 11:14 

LET IT GLOW

David's plan A and plan B failed. He could not cover up his sin by getting Uriah to go home to his wife. So David devised plan C:

• David sent a letter to Joab, his commander of the army, by way of Uriah. Little did he know that he was carrying his death warrant.
• He deliberately plotted the murder of Uriah, only it was to occur on the battlefront so it looked innocent.
• Joab's orders from his commander-in-chief was to station Uriah on the front lines where the battle was the fiercest. Then pull back so that he would be killed. (verse 15)
• So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy's strongest men were fighting. (verse 16)
• When the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers. (verse 17)

That was David's plan C, as it was. It is hard to read, that months earlier David was a godly king leading his army to victories. Now he has stooped so low as to plot a murder.

David decided to have the man murdered and then to take his wife. Joab was more than willing to cooperate, since this would give him opportunity later to take advantage of the king. (Wiersbe)

Do we learn from that a small sin of lust, so we think it is small, can blow up into a huge ordeal?

James 1:15 says Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

How many families have been destroyed (died) because the sin of lust was not stopped, confessed? It was allowed to grow into an affair and adultery. Then the marriage and family was destroyed.

Friends, let us recognize the temptations out there and not take a second look or allow a second thought to stay in our mind.

LET IT GROW

Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, was killed in the battle. Joab sent a messenger with the news to David. (verses 22-24)

Joab was no fool; he probably put two and two together. The mission was accomplished. Guess who has the information for blackmail later on. One day Joab would rise up and make David regret all of this. Joab had set it up for Uriah to be killed, by the orders of the king of Israel.

David's reply to the message was for Joab to not be discouraged. Fight harder next time and conquer the city. (verse 25) His reaction was not one of grief for Uriah.

David had become callous to his own sin. The only was he could cover up his first sin was to sin again, soon be no longer felt guilty for what he had done.  Deliberate, repeated sinning had dulled David's sensitivity to God's laws and other's rights. Don't become hardened to sin as David did. Confess your wrong actions to God before you forget they are sins. (Life Application Study Bible)

When Bathsheba heard about her husband's death, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace and she became one of is wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done. (verse 27)

Our plan C may be displeasing to the Lord. Do we ask Him before we execute it? Are we calloused over so w don't recognize it in our own life?

LET IT GO

When there are problems, temptations, sins in my life, stop today and confess them to the Lord.