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| David sees Bathsheba |
Time with Jesus - Sunday, 14 April 2013
Hi all,
Psalm 51 is a Psalm that should never have been written. Yes it is one of
the most beautiful Psalms in the Psalter. The title of the Psalm describes the
situation. It was written by King David. But King David and Bathsheba should
have been executed. First of all, for committing adultery! The penalty for
adultery was to be stoned to death. David also had Uriah the Hittite murdered.
This also warranted the death penalty. But David was the King! Who would bring
a charge against him and live to tell the tale?
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| Artist's Drawing of Bathsheba |
When Nathan the prophet went to him, after
he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Eventually, the Prophet Nathan confronted him in a way that touched David’s
heart, without rousing his ire. David was mortified. Psalm 51 flows from the
moment he was confronted. 1 Have mercy on
me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1 ESV
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| Statue of David in Florence |
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| You are the man |
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
within me. 11 Cast me not away from
your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a
willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
Am I saying that David was blessed with the blessings of the New Testament
1000, years before Jesus came? The answer is yes and no. No! He had no idea
what he was doing. It was a prophetic prayer, that would become the way of life
for born again Spirit filled believers in Jesus.
King David was a prophet and a king. He was not a priest. Yet, the mercy He
received was much the same as ours. I’m so pleased about this forgiveness David
obtained. Yes, from that point in time, the kingdom of Israel was on the
decline. At the same time this incident stands out like a beacon for us today.
God can and does forgive us in spite of the fact that like David, we don’t
deserve it. Perhaps that’s exactly why?
Shalom,
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Sunday, 14 April 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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good and clean and pure
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Most of us have an arrogant attitude toward those who commit sin.
Perhaps “pharisaic” better describes our reaction to those who fall into sin.
“I’ll never do that” seems to be the unseen and unheard words that pass
through our heads. Reading the account of David and Bathsheba’s adultery and
the terrible consequences, prompt us to say, “I wouldn’t do that!” Check your
own attitude. Are you genuinely appalled or envious? My honest opinion, which
I suspect is true of most men, is to ask the Lord to keep me away from such a
situation. What would I have done? What would you have done? Be honest!
David was the King. He was untouchable. He loved the Lord. There are
dozens of reasons why this should never have happened. What about Bathsheba.
She was at the most amorous time of her month. Her husband was away fighting
in David’s army. She knew she was very attractive. She was also aware that
one of David’s sons would succeed David as king. Did she think that she could
perhaps be mother of the future king? Was it her plan to entrap David? I suspect
not. But there were so many “coincidences” in the occasion. Could she have
refused to come? I doubt it. In those days, the king’s command was not disobeyed.
Not if you wished to remain alive. So what else could she have done? As a
further complication, a woman was always subject to her father until she
married. Then she was subject to her husband. Her husband would also have
been subject to the king. What would have happened if David sent for her in
her husband’s presence? Could Bathsheba or her husband have refused? Only
David, Bathsheba and God can answer these questions. Our opinion is irrelevant.
Whatever the reason, we know that from that day onward, the nation
went into decline. The seeds of the fall of the nation were planted. Some 500
years later, Jerusalem was destroyed. Those who survived were taken captive
to Babylon.
New Christians tend to have a superior attitude to this. “I would
never have done that” dismisses the question contemptuously. Then, in the
course of time, our own imperfections surface. We realise that we have not
been vaccinated against sin. With the Lord’s help, we have to resist
temptation. Can we? Will we? Frankly, I don’t know. It’s a bit like having to
face up to persecution. Will we stand or will we collapse? Don’t answer. I
can’t honestly answer that question myself. Corrie ten Boom, who was sent to
one of the Nazi concentration camps, said that the Lord gives you the ticket
when you get on the train.
My own somewhat limited experience, is to recommend that we be
truthful with ourselves and with God. He knows what you and I would do. Let’s
not try and test the theory in real life. Incidentally, we live in a world
where telling lies is quite normal. People do it to impress others. No doubt
you’ve heard the term, “evangelastically speaking”? Try to disassociate
yourself from it!
There are lessons we can all learn from this sad story. My appeal to
the younger women is to please be aware that ordinary men find them
attractive. Ladies, please be kind to the men. Please do not dress provocatively
in public. Legally you have the right to dress as you wish. However, your
fathers, brothers and other men are not made of stone.
Jim
& Phyllida
Strickland
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10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11
Do not banish me from Your presence, and don't take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and make me willing to obey You.
Psalm 51:10-12 NLT
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead
him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
Isaiah 57:18 ESV
18
"Come. Let us talk some more about this matter,"
says the LORD. "Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as
white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.
Isaiah 1:18 NIrV
22
"Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your
faithlessness." "Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our
God.
Jer. 3:22 ESV
8 I want to hear what God the LORD says, because he promises peace to
his people, to his godly ones. But they must not go back to their stupidity.
Psalm 85:8 GW
2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and never forget all the good
he has done: 3 He is the one
who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases,
Psalm 103:2-3 GW
3 He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness
for the sake of his name.
Psalm 23:3 GW
1 In
days to come, the people of Israel will sing, "LORD,
we will praise you. You were angry with us. But now your anger has turned
away from us. And you have brought us comfort.
Isaiah 12:1 NIrV
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard
for your statutes continually!
Psalm 119:117 ESV
25 I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious
actions for my own sake. I will not remember your sins anymore.
Isaiah 43:25 GW
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It happened in the Springtime; when Kings go off to war.
But David didn’t do it. What did he stay home for?
Perhaps he knew Bathsheba’s naked body would be seen?
The time had come for her to be washed ritually clean.
So when he walked upon the roof, what did he think he’d see?
And what about Bathsheba? What sort of wife was she?
Was she there to flaunt herself before the Nation’s King?
Regardless of the motives, it was the very thing,
That brought about the murder of the man whom she had wed.
For David summoned her to him and took her to his bed.
The outcome was an infant. But what could David do?
The truth became apparent and all the Kingdom knew,
That they were both adulterers. They should have both been stoned.
But David was the nation’s King. The deed was thus condoned!
But God knew all about it. The baby would soon die.
And after it had happened, they knew the reason why!
But we will never know the truth on this side of the grave.
Except it’s not the proper way for people to behave.
Do not stop and preen yourself. One thing we mustn’t say,
Is that we are quite certain we will not go that way!
David and Bathsheba’s sin is really not unique.
You and I are just as bad. Don’t ever have the cheek,
To think you are impervious to such a dreadful sin,
It’s a prideful attitude that’s dwelling deep within.
Let us all be grateful for what the Lord can do.
If He pardon’s sinners, He’ll surely pardon you!
Ask Him to forgive you. Trust His Holy Son,
And the Holy Spirit; the gracious Three-in-one,
To take your sin so scarlet and wash you white as snow.
Don’t think you can hide it. There’s naught He doesn’t know.
He will heal our faithlessness, if we will but return.
Admit that there is so much more that we still have to learn.
Turn in true repentance and ask Him to forgive.
There can be no question. He’ll surely let you live.
Don’t forget the good things which He’s already done.
Healed you from diseases; the victories He’s won!
You will know His righteousness; the straight and narrow way,
Surely He will lead you; if Him you will obey,
His anger will be turned away and then you will revere,
The One Who always loves you and is forever near.
Your sin’s won’t be remembered and you will know for sure,
A lifestyle in the Master which is good and clean and pure.
Jim Strickland
Written
14th April 2012
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