May 30, 2021. II Samuel 12:13-23

Posted byJohn Sanzone

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THE FRUIT OF FOLLY.  II Samuel 12:13-23.  05/30/2021.  #24.

2 Samuel 12:13-23 [New King James Version]

13 So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” 15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 And he said, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

  1. The verdict
    1. David immediately acknowledges his guilt when confronted by Nathan (unlike Saul, Jonah, Samson, Balaam, Jezebel…)
      1. Psalm 51 David confesses that he has sinned against the Lord (“against you & you only”, Psalm 51:4)
      1. David mentions nothing about Uriah, the men who died with him, or Bathsheba
    1. The prescribed penalty is execution (for adultery & murder)
    1. Nathan states that God has commuted his sentence
      1. David would not be executed for his sins
      1. David is forgiven of his sins
    1. David’s sentence is commuted to a life of sorrowful trials
      1. His enemies will be raised up from within his home
      1. David short circuited his own blessing (Dt. 24 we do the same thing when we sin)
      1. David would never know what other blessings God had for him
    1. David faces open shame because he had “given God’s enemies great occasion to blaspheme God’s name”
      1. David had shown himself to be a hypocrite
      1. All would know what David had done
      1. When we worship & testify of God’s goodness & then sin, the unsaved accuse us hypocrisy
        1. “vice pays respect to virtue”
        1. We come across as self-righteous
    1. David does not compound the problem with denials or justification for his sin (the world must see us confess & repent of our sins)
    1. The Christian is on display & the world watches his life
      1. Neither sin nor self-righteousness are viable
      1. A life of circumspect takes constant vigilance
    1. Forgiveness does not forestall recompense
      1. David had a price to pay (accountability)
      1. There are always consequences for sin
  2. The axe falls on the child
    1. David is told that the child Bathsheba carries would die
      1. The child had done nothing wrong, but he played the role of recompense for sin (as Job’s children played the role of testing Job’s faith)
      1. We can’t judge God’s actions in dealing with David
    1. David mourns & pleads with God to spare the child
      1. God’s judgment was final (like Moses’ judgment)
      1. David could neither take back his deeds nor dissuade God of his judgment (can’t redo events)
    1. David’s servants can’t convince David to eat
      1. His anguish is a part of the penalty he must pay
      1. His sincerity does not change what was done
    1. The anguish of remorse doesn’t necessarily bring change
      1. What we feel is not always transfer to lasting belief
      1. David learns a lesson, but still is prone to sin
  3. Aftermath
    1. After the baby dies, David resumes his life
      1. He explains = there was no more that he could do
      1. David states that he could later go to the child
    1. David’s knowledge of the child’s destiny is not a doctrine
      1. Can’t conclude that all deceased babies are saved
      1. Acts 16:31 a believer’s family isn’t guaranteed salvation