David’s Chastisement and Restoration

This week’s passage raises some very challenging issues, including:

What do you say to parents whose infant has suddenly died as they wonder, ‘Is it our fault? Is God punishing us? Is our baby in heaven?’
What do you say to someone who is so much in despair that you fear that she may take her own life?
What do you say to a brother or sister in Christ who has passionately sought God’s blessing in a certain situation (a relationship, a job, a dream) and God has definitively answered ‘No’.
Can God bless a marriage which has begun sinfully, perhaps after fornication, adultery, or a divorce?

Our passage this week touches on all of these issues and more.

King David has been forgiven by God for his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah (in attempt to cover-up his sin).
David, however, will still have to face the consequences of his sin, which include the death of the son conceived through his adultery with Bathsheba.
David pleads for the life of his son, but then when his son dies, he accepts the LORD’s will and worships.
The LORD also shows favor to David as David and Bathsheba have another son (Solomon) who is beloved of the LORD. Also, David is victorious in battle over the Ammonites.
Though he will bear the consequences and the scars of his sin, David’s relationship to the LORD has been restored.

This passage offers both instruction and hope for us as we think of how the LORD deals with us both in chastisement and in grace.

Seeking and Granting Forgiveness

While the most important forgiveness is the forgiveness we receive from God, we are also called upon to seek and grant forgiveness from one another.

The story of Joseph illustrates biblical principles of forgiveness.

1. We must seek forgiveness (quickly and thoroughly) when we wrong others.
2. We must grant forgiveness when others ask us.
3. Joseph teaches how we are able to forgive others (even when it is hard).

Righteousness for the Unrighteous

Why is the Gospel “good news”? Romans 3:21-26 answers that question by showing us that God declares us to be righteous in His sight through faith in Christ, not through our best efforts to obey Him. Here are some questions to consider as you listen to this sermon:

1. What is the “righteousness of God”?
2. How does one receive the righteousness of God?
3. Why did Christ die on the cross?
4. What attributes of God are displayed in Christ’s death on the cross?

David Repents and God Forgives

Last week we looked at the Prophet Nathan’s confrontation of David over his sins with Bathsheba and Uriah.

Tomorrow we will study David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness.

We will see the difference between worldly sorrow (in the example of Saul in I Samuel 15) and David’s godly sorrow.

We also will learn that even forgiven sin may have serious consequences.

The LORD Confronts David’s Sin

This Sunday we resume our series in II Samuel as the LORD sends the prophet Nathan to confront David over his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her husband Uriah in the cover up. In chapter 11 it seemed that David was in control and that he had literally gotten by with his crimes, but the LORD took notice. Several months later the LORD takes action as he sends the prophet Nathan to expose and rebuke David’s sin.

This passage reminds us that, while a true believer can fall into sin, sooner or later the LORD will do what it takes to bring him to repentance.

Nathan serves as an example of how God calls us to restore one another when someone falls into sin (Gal. 6:1).

It is also a reminder of how we should be receptive to those who come to admonish us.

Satisfaction for the Thirsty

Spurgeon called Isaiah 55 a chapter of gospel invitation. He preached from this passage at least eighteen times.

Isaiah 55 pleads with the lost to abandon their worthless idols. The Lord offers abundant pardon and rich kingdom blessings to those who turn to Him.

Isaiah 55 also speaks to believers who sometimes waste their time and money seeking to find joy and satisfaction in worldly things instead of finding their fulfillment in Christ.

Isaiah 55 also points to Christ who offers Himself as our spiritual food and drink.

Liberty and Love

Are you strong?

Last week Paul began his discussion of the issues over which Christians differ by encouraging all of us to accept one another without judging in these difficult matters.

In this week’s text Paul focuses upon those who consider themselves strong - because they believe they have liberty to do things in which the weak cannot participate without violating his conscience.
Rather than looking down on the weak, the strong should forego the use of his freedom for the sake of those who don’t enjoy the same sense of freedom.
In so doing he is living out the gospel by imitating Christ who gave up His rights for us.