A Lesson On Being Forgiven

The story of David is such an interesting one to me. From just a very young man, he was chosen by God. One story is told found in 1 Samuel 16 when God told the prophet Samuel that He had rejected Saul as being king over Israel. He told Samuel to go and anoint a new king over Israel that would be found among the sons of Jesse - but He didn't tell him who it would be. Upon seeing Jesse's first son, a strong and handsome man, Samuel was sure that God's anointed was before him. God told him no, (v.7) "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him (them - all of Jesse's sons except David, the youngest). For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." And what a heart God saw in David. I believe it is a big reason why the story of David takes up a good amount of the Bible. His story is so important. David's life was a world-wind of ups and downs, blessings and curses, right decisions and wrong decisions, full of joy and pain. The character that I'd like to focus on is David's heart. We are all like David in the aspect that at times in our life, we made a bad decision. A decision that haunts us in the future. A decision that keeps pestering us and will not go away. It's how David handles those situations that I find interesting - and sometimes hard to put in practice.

It's good to remember that God removed king Saul because Saul chose not to obey God. We should always allow ourselves to be used by God for good - not for bad. David had the right attitude from the beginning, a servant attitude, willing to take risk for better gain - remember his servant attitude in bringing supplies to his brothers at the war camp, only to allow God to work through him by taking the risk of facing Goliath. God strengthened David, and enabled him to speak these words to a giant: 1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

Several years later in king David's life, David heart was not right. David was not acting as he should. In a time where David should have been with his army in battle, he stayed behind. Sometimes, finding ourselves in the wrong spot and in the wrong time can definitely lead us into trouble. In fact, I'd like to offer you a link to one of the best articles I've read on this same topic. Please be sure and visit this link later for a wake-up call by clicking here:

Places You Never Dreamed You'd Go.

The story of David's fall with Bathsheba is one that reminds me of a snowball rolling downhill. Once David got started, he couldn't stop and things went from bad to worse. David shouldn't have been there to begin with, but he should have been elsewhere with his army. He was probably bored with nothing to do - Idleness brings about destruction. David looked, and he saw a beautiful woman. "Whoops" he said, "let me run back inside and get that image out of my mind while I find something more productive to do". No, David didn't say that. In fact, he sent his own messengers to her house - her husband by the way was gone out to war with the rest of the guys. David is actively pursuing this encounter - he's the king after all, and he can have and do anything he wants - right? After the sinful deed was done, he / they then find out that she became pregnant - the snowball's getting bigger and bigger.... David hatches a plan to bring Bathsheba's husband back for a little R & R. Well, this backfires. Uriah was an honorable man, and chose not to even stay with his wife while the rest of the army's still out there fighting. He stayed and watched guard over king David with the rest of the people. David still tries to persuade him a few more times. Even drunk, Uriah stands firm for what is right. Finally, David writes a notice to Joab to place Uriah in the front of the battle, and retreat from him - so that he may be killed. What a cover up! He's in the clear now, and he can have Uriah's wife and child. Well, no. God would not allow this to happen unchallenged.

Check back later for a continuation to this story and find out how David was restored back into good graces with God and his people.

Am I listening to what God is Saying In His Word?