Psalm 139:23-24, NIV
“Search me O God and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
David was a man after God’s own heart. He was a shepherd boy destined to rule God’s kingdom on earth. He went through an arduous preparation which would have tested the faith of many. Servant-hearted David came through and was finally installed as king of Israel. However, we shouldn’t always see David as a model. He’s far from perfect. He fell into the sin of adultery with Bathsheba and then murder (2 Samuel 11). This story is horrifying because it reminds us that we all have the potential to sin badly. He broke three of the ten commandments. In the beginning, David’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. David should have been leading his men in the war. He went from being the ‘hands on’ king of the people, who was a servant of the Lord, to an aloof king who sends off others to do his bidding.
What can we learn about sin from David’s downfall and subsequent restoration?
Sin always deceives – Satan is the deceiver and father of lies. Sin is the way to death and destruction.
Sin always destroys – One sin leads to lying as a cover up, leading to more lies, and in David’s case leading to murder. For all of us, choosing to sin puts a barrier between God and us, which lowers our sensitivity to sin. We eventually lose all self respect, reaching out to sources that will never bring the desired results. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that there is a sin (like pornography) that hurts no one. Sin ALWAYS destroys.
Sin is always discovered – Satan tempts us to believe that no one will ever know and that we can hide our sin. Satan’s so effective in this that many of us are even lying to ourselves, thinking that our sins are only known to us. Maybe we start to think like David, that we’ve succeeded in covering our tracks. God sees everything. It’s laid before His eyes and God won’t be mocked. There’s a window of opportunity to repent, but after that sin is always discovered.
Confessed sin is always forgiven – God never turns His ear away. Even all David’s sin wasn’t unforgivable. God always listens. We need to deal with any hidden sins. Ask someone to hold you accountable.
Sin always deceives, always destroys and is always discovered.
When God shows you the sin of your heart, confess it and know the joy of living a life which is blameless before Him. Confessed sin is always forgiven by the blood of Jesus.
Prayer:| Father God, thank You for the revelation of Your word. Thank You that Your truth is eternal. Open our hearts and ears to hear and help us to gain this insight today into the reality of the power of sin, but also the wonderful power over sin You give us in salvation. Thank You for forgiving my sin today as I confess it to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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