David Sins against God

KEY VERSE: “David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” —II Samuel 12:13

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: II Samuel 12:1-10, 13

DAVID IS SPOKEN of by the Lord as a man after his own heart. (I Sam. 13:14; Ps. 89:20,21; Acts 13:22) This does not mean that he had no faults, but it does mean that his heart was right before God. However, he committed a gross sin in arranging for the death of Uriah, and taking his wife to be his own wife.

When this matter was called forcibly to his attention by the Prophet Nathan, he did not recognize himself in the picture the prophet had drawn, and expressed great indignation against the sinner therein portrayed.

How stunned he must have been when Nathan said to him, “Thou art the man.” Then, speaking for the Lord, Nathan reminded David of the bountiful provision which had been made for him. The Lord had delivered him from the envious clutches of Saul, “and I [God] gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.”

As part of David’s punishment for this great sin, he was told that his reign as king of Israel would be characterized by war. This prophecy came tragically true. Besides, his first son by Bathsheba, Uriah’s former wife, sickened and died. This was further punishment upon David for his great sin.

Nevertheless, God’s tender mercy was also displayed toward David in that he spared his life. Under the Law, David’s sin called for the death sentence, but he was not destroyed. This was due largely to the fact that David was so quick to acknowledge his sin when it was pointed out to him. He said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”—vs. 13

The first seven verses of Psalm 32 seem to be an expression of David’s feelings toward the Lord in connection with his sin and its forgiveness. He wrote, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. For thus shall everyone that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.”

In this sixth verse David suggests that his experience could be of benefit to others, and he advises all who have sinned before the Lord to be prompt in acknowledging their iniquity and asking for his forgiveness. This, indeed, is one of the practical lessons to be learned from David’s experience.

When David’s son, Solomon, was born, he was referred to as Jedidiah, meaning ‘beloved of the Lord’. (vss. 24,25, Margin) This additional name seems to have been suggested by Nathan, the Lord’s prophet, and it would be an assurance to David that he had truly been forgiven, and that the Lord’s blessing would continue with him.

In David’s life we have a good example of how God deals with repentent sinners. We are constantly reminded of the law of heredity which is operating in human experience because of sin. By heredity Adam’s transgression brought death to all his children, and all, by nature, are looked upon as sinners.

But God does appreciate those who at heart endeavor to keep his commandments. This is why he loved David, and showed mercy toward him when he was quick to repent and to acknowledge his sin. God does not deal with any of his people upon the basis of their actual accomplishments, but according to the desires of their hearts.

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