DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE INFECTION OF SIN

DAD'S RAMBLINGS –THE INFECTION OF SIN

"So David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.'  And Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin, you shall not die.  However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.' "

(II Samuel 12:13-14).  

The affair with Bathsheba was a sad and sordid bloch on David, his reign and his legacy.  But it gives us much insight into the effects of sin.

First, when David was confronted by Nathan, he was quick to confess his sin.

Second, God was quick to forgive.  

Third, David understood that his sin was not just against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah, but it was against God Himself.

Fourth, one of the effects of sin is to give God's enemies occasion to speak badly about God.

Fifth, although David was forgiven, there would still be consequences for his sin that would not just be painful to him but to Bathsheba – the death of a child that arose from this adultery.

We need to be aware that when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we need to repent immediately, with the assurance that God forgives immediately.  We need to remember that our sin is primarily against God even though other people may be affected.  It should cause us grief that our sin gives the ungodly occasion to speak evil of our God.  And even though we have been forgiven, there may be residual consequences of our sin.

Sin is like a bad infection that needs to be cleansed.  We serve a gracious and longsuffering God who is quick to forgive and cleanse us from our unrighteousness when we confess our sins.  Forgiven.  What a beautiful word.  

Love, Dad