More to The Story - Chapter 12
YOUR GREATEST HEALTH RISK
"When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Selah” Psalm 32:3-4(NIV)
DAVID AND BATHSHEBA
When did David write these words?
I am certain it was after having been confronted by Nathan about his having slept with Bathsheba and then having her husband killed. At that point his sin overwhelmed him and he could no longer live with himself.
However this has me wondering. Was his sin eating him up only after being confronted? Or is it possible that he was being destroyed from the inside out even while he thought he was getting away with adultery and murder?
My guess is that a believer gets away with nothing. Even before being found out, God’s Spirit is at odds with your spirit and that conflict plays itself out in physically in the body – even causing serious disease. My guess is that this is true even when the believer feels he’s “gotten away with murder”.
Are you carrying around unconfessed sin? Is it possible that it is taking an emotional and physical toll on you even though you are feeling no guilt?
Have you tried Biblical healing?
“Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD"—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah" Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
I, too, thought about this in Psalm 32:3-4 as I read "The Story". What came to me was when David fasted and prayed when his son, the one born from the initial encounter with Bathseba, had been born and fallen ill. David would not be consoled for this period of time as he went to the only One who could restore life and relationship. David went before the LORD and when the LORD answered, David accepted the answer even though it meant a loss of his child. I am not sure if I would have responded as David did. He knew his God and was sacrifically willing to accept God's answer to prayer and moved on with God. I am not sure if I could accept such costs to walk with God. Don't get me wrong!!! I so desire to walk so distinctly and sacrifically. I just haven't gotten there yet but am walking in that direction with God's help.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteAs you haven't gotten there yet, neither have I. As a parent who has lost a child, when I read II Samuel 12 I see David as someone who was in the moment as he confessed his sin, as he pleaded with God, as he fasted and as he refused to get up from the ground.In those moments he embraced God with all the passion he had and my guess is that David's relationship with God changed forever, yes forever because David is with God and David is with the child that died. David had an eternal view of his life and the painful chain of events that were set into motion because of his sin. When asked by his servents in verse 21 "why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat" David answered, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me".
Losing a child was the hardest thing I have experienced. I turn to II Samuel 12 often, most days I know it in my heart that there will be a wonderful reunion. I have my moments when it is shallow head knowledge. That is when God is faithful to draw my heart back to Him.