The Bible does not gloss over the failures and sins of its heroes. David, a man after God’s own heart, is no exception. Today’s reading describes a moment of great darkness and wickedness in David’s life. He commits adultery and then murders to cover up the adultery. Both offenses are worthy of death. At the same time, the Bible does not gloss over God’s incredible mercy and forgiveness! However, though God is merciful and answers David’s repentance with forgiveness, God does not cancel the outcome of David’s sin.
This whole situation with David began with a seemingly inconsequential decision. David stayed home from going to war.
And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1, KJV)
In the readings leading up to this moment, you may have noticed the headings in your Bible over chapters 8 and 10 in 2 Samuel—chapter 8 lists David’s military victories. David was, no doubt, a brilliant man of war. Chapter 10 describes David’s defeat of the Ammonites. In other words, David has grown accustomed to victory. Has this changed, David?
We get a sense of who David has become through the prophet Nathan, who comes to confront David about his sins. He paints a picture of David through a parable of a rich, arrogant, self-indulgent, and heartless man in 2 Samuel 12:1–4. In his calloused condition, David quickly pronounces righteous judgment against the man in the parable (2 Samuel 12:5–6)! Oh, the arrogance and the pride of a man who has just committed adultery and murder, the blindness of the human heart to gloss over its sin to condemn another! Nathan’s words hit David like a sledgehammer.
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. (2 Samuel 12:7–8, ESV)
The problem with this situation is who David had become before his seemingly insignificant decision to stay home from battle. The problem here is pride. The problem is not some abstract idea of pride; the problem is David’s pride, which David owns up to in his confession to Nathan and God (2 Samuel 12:13–14). God is merciful, forgiving him and sparing David’s life, but how much better it would have been to have walked humbly amid all the success David had grown accustomed to.
Praise God for His work of convicting sin in our lives! It is easy for pride to slip into our lives and change us, often slowly over time—almost imperceptibly. How dangerous one decision can become when influenced by pride. Oh, how safe it is to walk in humility before God, especially during seasons of health and success. May we take to heart the words from Micah, the prophet.
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8, NLT)
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 20.