Nathan said to David. “…I swear to you that I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble on you. You will see it when I take your wives from you and give them to another man; and he will have intercourse with them in broad daylight. You sinned in secret, but I will make this happen in broad daylight for all Israel to see.’”
Luke 8:17. When I am tested, may I come forth as gold, Lord (Job 23:10).
“I have sinned against the Lord,” David said.
Psalm 51:1-17. What a difference between David’s confession here and Saul’s where his needed to be ripped from him (1 Samuel 15:17-25). May I never hesitate in my confession, Father.
Nathan replied, “The Lord forgives you; you will not die. But because you have shown such contempt for the Lord in doing this, your child will die.” Then Nathan went home.
Forgiveness came immediately after the confession – as it should. And that forgiveness is truly complete, demonstrated in the following child Solomon where he was beloved by God (2 Samuel 12:24-25) and later ascended to the throne (1 Kings 1:39).
“The Lord caused the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David to become very sick. David prayed to God that the child would get well. He refused to eat anything, and every night he went into his room and spent the night lying on the floor. His court officials went to him and tried to make him get up, but he refused and would not eat anything with them.
To my shame, I would have responded more like Eli (1 Samuel 3:18). The truth is, I don’t see where my intercession really has much of an effect. Is something wrong with me, Lord? Please transform me.
A week later the child died, and David’s officials were afraid to tell him the news. …When David noticed them whispering to each other, he realized that the child had died. So he asked them, “Is the child dead?” “Yes, he is,” they answered.
David got up from the floor, took a bath, combed his hair, and changed his clothes. Then he went and worshiped in the house of the Lord. When he returned to the palace, he asked for food and ate it as soon as it was served. “We don’t understand this,” his officials said to him. “While the child was alive, you wept for him and would not eat; but as soon as he died, you got up and ate!”
“Yes,” David answered, “I did fast and weep while he was still alive. I thought that the Lord might be merciful to me and not let the child die. But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Could I bring the child back to life? I will some day go to where he is, but he can never come back to me.”
David focused his efforts on what might truly make a difference. May I not waste my time on what doesn’t, Lord. May what I say and do truly be effective (1 Corinthians 9:26). Thank you, Jesus, that because of you death is not the end all (Colossians 2:13-15)!