Consequences!
"‘Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.’ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” II Samuel 12:4-7a
Back in the 1970’s I was working for the State of Idaho and also taught a Bible class at the Idaho State Penitentiary. One of the men had been convicted of murder and was serving a life sentence. One night he was sharing with the group what had happened. His act was accomplished in the heat of emotion. His evening had begun in a festive atmosphere but ended with him behind bars for life.
The result of our actions will always result in consequences. The result of doing things God’s was will result in honor and blessing. Refusal to obey God and His commands will carry shame and dire consequences.
David was God’s selection to be the mighty King of Israel. David had served the Lord faithfully for many years and God had showered him with honor and blessings.
In II Samuel 11:1, we read; “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.” What a sad sentence. At a time when David should have been with his army he stayed at home. I am sure that he rationalized that he was needed back home, but that was not the place he was called to serve. KINGS LEAD -- THEY DO NOT SEND!
You no doubt recall the sad story of David’s sin. He STAYED -- He STARED -- He STOLE -- He SLEW! He was guilty of not going into battle with his men; of committing adultery and of killing Bathsheba’s faithful husband.
I am sure that David’s conscience bothered him, but it is possible that he may have thought he had escaped the consequences. God knew! Not only did God know, but He sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David about his sin.
As we read today’s Scripture, we see that David is enraged by a wealthy and powerful neighbor who would steal his poor neighbor’s one ewe lamb. He fumed out his vengeance on such a vile man but was stopped in his tracks by Nathan’s words of judgment: “You are the man!”
David repented of his sin, but there were serious consequences. Like my friend at the Penitentiary, a consequence was required. In David’s case it was the death of his baby and chaos between his sons.
Repentance also had its consequences. My friend became a born again Christian and led many other inmates to Jesus. David felt the touch of the Lord and wrote many Psalms with a broken heart. He became known as a man after God’s own heart. Where are you right now? I urge you to repent and reap the consequences of God’s love and forgiveness.
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
"‘Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.’ David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” II Samuel 12:4-7a
Back in the 1970’s I was working for the State of Idaho and also taught a Bible class at the Idaho State Penitentiary. One of the men had been convicted of murder and was serving a life sentence. One night he was sharing with the group what had happened. His act was accomplished in the heat of emotion. His evening had begun in a festive atmosphere but ended with him behind bars for life.
The result of our actions will always result in consequences. The result of doing things God’s was will result in honor and blessing. Refusal to obey God and His commands will carry shame and dire consequences.
David was God’s selection to be the mighty King of Israel. David had served the Lord faithfully for many years and God had showered him with honor and blessings.
In II Samuel 11:1, we read; “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.” What a sad sentence. At a time when David should have been with his army he stayed at home. I am sure that he rationalized that he was needed back home, but that was not the place he was called to serve. KINGS LEAD -- THEY DO NOT SEND!
You no doubt recall the sad story of David’s sin. He STAYED -- He STARED -- He STOLE -- He SLEW! He was guilty of not going into battle with his men; of committing adultery and of killing Bathsheba’s faithful husband.
I am sure that David’s conscience bothered him, but it is possible that he may have thought he had escaped the consequences. God knew! Not only did God know, but He sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David about his sin.
As we read today’s Scripture, we see that David is enraged by a wealthy and powerful neighbor who would steal his poor neighbor’s one ewe lamb. He fumed out his vengeance on such a vile man but was stopped in his tracks by Nathan’s words of judgment: “You are the man!”
David repented of his sin, but there were serious consequences. Like my friend at the Penitentiary, a consequence was required. In David’s case it was the death of his baby and chaos between his sons.
Repentance also had its consequences. My friend became a born again Christian and led many other inmates to Jesus. David felt the touch of the Lord and wrote many Psalms with a broken heart. He became known as a man after God’s own heart. Where are you right now? I urge you to repent and reap the consequences of God’s love and forgiveness.
Pastor Cecil A. Thompson
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