A Sin Worse than Murder?
QGA 24044
10 2Samuel 12:09
The Context: King David had taken Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and made her pregnant. Seeking to cover up his adulterous affair, David had Uriah killed and taken Bathsheba as another wife. After ignoring his guilt David was visited by an advisor and friend, Nathan. Prompted by God, and loving concern for his King, Nathan challenged David with this question. Read the full story in 2Samuel 12.
God asks us: to David thru Nathan Why have you despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in His sight?
jne: In our contemporary culture, adultery seems to not be such an "evil" thing. But "murder" still is, except in our entertainment. While our behaviors are open for all to see, our attitudes that produce the behaviors are often not talked about or even taken into consideration when describing bad behaviors. But God noticed David's attitude and Nathan talked about it. David's adultery was described as "evil." But notice that equal, and perhaps worse, was David's "despising the word of the Lord." Underlying any and all of David's sin (and mine too) was "despising the word of the Lord." In this specific instance David ignored, disregarded, belittled, several, if not all, of God's Ten Commandments. Obviously, David committed murder, adultery, told numerous lies, and coveted. Though we don't often consider it, David demonstrated that his personal pleasure was his god of the moments. And if during those days, weeks and months David claimed to represent God, he was using God's Name in vain.
God was hard on David. He allowed his baby son to die. He allowed disunity and tension to surround him all his days. Be sure to read Psalm 51 which describes David's response to God's merciful, loving discipline.
The story should be familiar because it is the story of our human nature to "despise the word of the Lord." Each and every one of our evil deeds, no matter whether heinous or mild, is rooted in the attitude that says my way is better than God's way. This was the attitude of Adam and Eve and it is the attitude that you and I demonstrate whenever we sin. But God graciously brings Nathans and His Word, the Bible, into our lives. We choose over and over again every day whether to despise God and His Word or to bow before Him, like David did in Psalm 51.
Perhaps this brief article is a Nathan from God to you. If so, it is God's merciful love to prompt you to more seriously think about your attitude toward God and His Word to you.
10 2Samuel 12:09
The Context: King David had taken Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and made her pregnant. Seeking to cover up his adulterous affair, David had Uriah killed and taken Bathsheba as another wife. After ignoring his guilt David was visited by an advisor and friend, Nathan. Prompted by God, and loving concern for his King, Nathan challenged David with this question. Read the full story in 2Samuel 12.
God asks us: to David thru Nathan Why have you despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in His sight?
jne: In our contemporary culture, adultery seems to not be such an "evil" thing. But "murder" still is, except in our entertainment. While our behaviors are open for all to see, our attitudes that produce the behaviors are often not talked about or even taken into consideration when describing bad behaviors. But God noticed David's attitude and Nathan talked about it. David's adultery was described as "evil." But notice that equal, and perhaps worse, was David's "despising the word of the Lord." Underlying any and all of David's sin (and mine too) was "despising the word of the Lord." In this specific instance David ignored, disregarded, belittled, several, if not all, of God's Ten Commandments. Obviously, David committed murder, adultery, told numerous lies, and coveted. Though we don't often consider it, David demonstrated that his personal pleasure was his god of the moments. And if during those days, weeks and months David claimed to represent God, he was using God's Name in vain.
God was hard on David. He allowed his baby son to die. He allowed disunity and tension to surround him all his days. Be sure to read Psalm 51 which describes David's response to God's merciful, loving discipline.
The story should be familiar because it is the story of our human nature to "despise the word of the Lord." Each and every one of our evil deeds, no matter whether heinous or mild, is rooted in the attitude that says my way is better than God's way. This was the attitude of Adam and Eve and it is the attitude that you and I demonstrate whenever we sin. But God graciously brings Nathans and His Word, the Bible, into our lives. We choose over and over again every day whether to despise God and His Word or to bow before Him, like David did in Psalm 51.
Perhaps this brief article is a Nathan from God to you. If so, it is God's merciful love to prompt you to more seriously think about your attitude toward God and His Word to you.