Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Some thoughts:

1) Occasions for sin can occur during times of idleness, or when we are not occupied with the normal duties that God has assigned us. (Instead of acting as a king by leading his armies in battle, David remained behind in Jerusalem.)

2) We usually have a chance to stop ourselves from committing sin if we will avail ourselves of it. (David saw Bathsheba and lusted after her, but then followed that up both by inquiring who she was, and then sending for her.)

3) Trying to cover up sin only makes things worse. (David ordered Uriah's death after Uriah (out of his devotion to duty) refused to go to his house and sleep with his wife.)

4) Sin hardens the heart. (David progressed from lust to adultery to murder.)

5) Even if no one else is aware of a sin that we think is private, God is aware, and all sins are ultimately against Him. (The thing that David had done displeased God (2 Samuel 11:27), even though David thought he had "covered his tracks". Also, when David confessed to Nathan, he did not say, "I have sinned against Uriah," (although he had), but "I have sinned against the LORD.")

6) It is easier to be outraged at someone else's sin than at one's own. (David's reaction to Nathan's story.) 

7) Sin can occur when we try to circumvent God in providing for our needs. (God had already provided for David (including multiple wives), and would have provided more if David had but asked (2 Samuel 12:7-9), but David resorted to sin.)

8) Heartfelt repentance is the only appropriate response to commission of sin (Psalm 51).

9) While a sin may affect our life, it need not ruin our life. (David endured multiple temporal consequences for his sin, but God put away his sin so that David would not suffer eternal separation from Him, and Bathsheba also subsequently gave birth to Solomon, whom God loved (2 Samuel 12:24-25).)

October 28 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Karen Sutton

David was "under the law" and had no way to be forgiven or to cover his sins. Because of the depth of his love for and faith in God, he threw himself on God's mercy and knew that God can forgive anything if we but ask and have faith in his plan and purpose. David gives all of us hope. He also mirrors the faith of Abraham, who is considered to be the first Jew. Abraham "believed God and it was imputed to him as righteousness." And at the time, circumcision did not exist, but only was put into practice after Abraham was chosen by God, and was done as a way of separating God's people from the rest of mankind. The fact that God blessed Abraham while he was yet uncircumcised is what can give Gentiles a full assurrance that we, too, can be forgiven anything and have the hope of salvation if we have faith that all things are possible with God, just as Abraham and David did.

February 05 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report