"Acts 4:1-22
Take care to please God
In contemporary culture the words ‘You are the man!’ (12:7) might be words of admiration! But these are some of the most haunting words in the whole Bible. David had been found out. He had been tempted and had fallen into sin. He did it in secret and thought he had got away with it. But God saw everything. In one of the supreme understatements of the Bible we are told, ‘the thing David had done displeased the Lord’ (11:27).
Where did it all go wrong?
The point is often made that David’s first mistake was to remain in Jerusalem (v.1). If he had been out there fighting the battle with his people, he would have been less prone to temptation than sitting at home with rather too little to do. John Wimber often used to say, ‘It’s hard to sit still and be good’. We are much less likely to fall into temptation when we are fully occupied and in the right place.
David gradually slipped. He saw a ‘stunningly beautiful woman’ bathing (v.2, MSG). There was no sin yet, only temptation. However, he must have given in to lustful adulterous thoughts because he made a plan, sent for her to sleep with him and sinned greatly.
Although by the standards of his day it was nothing compared to what other kings would have done, he then planned a cover-up that did not work. Eventually, it ended in the murder of Uriah. As often happens, sin led to more sin – and the cover-up was even worse than the original sin.
David must have felt absolutely crushed at Nathan’s words: ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I anointed you … I delivered you … I gave you … And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” ’ (12:7–9). Not only had David messed up badly, but he was also someone who should have known better.
Amazingly, God forgave David even this enormous sin (v.13). There is no sin or failing that is too great for God to forgive, and no situation into which God’s grace cannot reach. No matter what you have done, God can forgive you.
The key to receiving that forgiveness is admitting our guilt and repenting of what we have done. This is the great difference between David (who God forgave when he sinned) and Saul (who God did not). Whereas Saul tried to justify himself (see 1 Samuel 15), David simply admitted everything. He said, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (v.13). In effect he just said ‘I’m sorry!’
Forgiveness does not take away the consequences of our actions though. For David the consequences were huge. His baby son died as a result (vv.13–14), and God warned him that because of his violent actions ‘the sword shall never depart from your house’ (v.10). The consequences of David’s sin were long lasting.
Nevertheless, this was not the end for David. God did not abandon him. Although his son died, there is hope that one day they will be reunited: ‘I will go to him, but he will not return to me’ (v.23). Not only that but God gave to David another son, Solomon, and ‘The Lord loved him’ (v.24).
This account is a warning and an encouragement. We all mess up from time to time. God forgives. He restores. He blesses us again. But let it also be a warning to us to take responsibility for our lives, to put in boundaries, get help early and to watch and pray that we do not fall into temptation.
If we have fallen, we need like David to admit our sin, confess, repent, grieve if necessary and then get on with our lives looking forward to what God has in store for us.
Lord, guard my heart and the hearts of all your people, that we may be faithful to you."
1. Thank You for Your forgiveness no matter what I have done. May I have the heart to come and repent to You.
2. Thank You for a night of good walks, hearty dinner, and fun discussions.
3. Thank You for sustaining me on my 10th day of PrayFit!
