Day 12 - Grace - For the Sinner 

Samuel 12:1-4,7

Pause –  

Open your hands as you release your concerns and receive what the Lord has for you today. Don’t rush these first moments of submission to the Lord.

      Search me 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.      Psalm 139:23-24

Rejoice in his goodness with Psalm 103:8-11

      The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. 

      He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

      He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

      For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.

There’s something I’ve come to realize about myself.  I have a keen sense of right and wrong – especially as it pertains to the behavior of others. I can identify inappropriate attitudes, patterns, and behaviors which others need to address in their own lives. Interestingly, I often am quicker to see the flaws in others than I am to recognize my own issues of impatience, intolerance, and rebellion. Am I alone in this? Can you identify with a similar malady in your own heart?   Apparently the great Psalm-writer and warrior, King David, had at least one lapse of self-awareness in his life which snowballed into an horrific series of failures and sin. Much like Adam and Eve, his attempts to cover his sin were not any more effective than sewing fig leaves together, at least in the eyes of  God and Nathan the prophet – and probably many others in the kingdom. 

Read and Reflect 

In  2 Samuel 11:1-5 King David does not go to battle with his army. Instead he stays behind,    notices a beautiful woman and has her brought back to his palace so that he may sleep with her. 

We know the story. Adultery that leads to pregnancy that leads to deception (a cover-up attempt                        

 that failed), that leads to murder, that leads to confrontation from Nathan the prophet…

Nathan the prophet shares this story with King David to confront his sin.

There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.   2 Samuel 12:1-4

David assumes this is a true story, and he is angered at the injustice of this selfish act.  His love of God’s law and concern for the poor leads him to declare “The man who has done this deserves to die.”  (David’s judgement is actually extreme and more harsh than the Law of Moses for stealing a sheep.) In response to David’s outrage Nathan slams the proverbial gavel with this statement: “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7)

• Nothing more needed to be said.  David was caught. His cover-up failed, as is always the case.

• No excuses. Daivd confesses.  “I have sinned against the Lord”

• Nathan informs David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

• David won’t die because God is gracious and forgiving.  

• His sins do have very tragic consequences, but his life and Kingdom are spared.

God’s willingness to forgive Israel (yesterday’s devotional) and King David’s sin illustrates the true nature of divine grace. 

Craig Evans observes, Without grace forgiveness is impossible and without forgiveness restoration is impossible. Before you judge David too harshly consider this: Have you ever judged someone else more harshly than you judge yourself? Have you ever been caught after trying to cover-up your own sin?

Reread and Reflect. 

Read the Scripture passages again – this time aloud.

There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.   
2 Samuel 12:1-4

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that rich man!  This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I chose you to be the king of Israel.  I saved you from Saul.   2 Samuel 12:7

What word/s or phrase/s stand out to you? What is the Lord bringing to mind in this passage today? 

Ask – 

Father, I know there are people that I have declared guilty and worthy of judgement that need grace.  I know there are people living in guilt and shame and fear that could benefit from a word of Truth and Grace.   Please awaken grace in my heart, in my church, and in our conference.  Amen.

Yield –

 Lord, open my hands and my heart before you today.  Release anyone or any group of people that I have judged worthy of harsh punishment.  Release any unforgiveness and bitterness in my heart.  Let me receive the fullness of your grace in my heart today.  Amen.      

      I just wanna speak the name of Jesus – Over every heart and every mind

     ‘Cause I know there is peace within Your presence  - I speak Jesus 

      I just wanna speak the name of Jesus – ‘Til every dark addiction starts to break

     Declaring there is hope and there is freedom – I speak Jesus