NEHCC Sermon - 6-1-08 - God Is Just
NORTHEAST HOUSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Sermon – God Is Just
Scripture – 2 Sam 12:15-25
6-01-08
2 Sam 12:15-25
And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.
Notice at an easily overlooked statement. The child is referred to as the child that “Uriah’s wife” bore to David. David and Bathsheba were claiming the child as theirs but God still acknowledged Bathsheba as the wife of Uriah.
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It seems that this child was ill from birth or very soon after it. It was customary that a male child was circumcised on the eight day and given his name. There is no recorded name given to this child.
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16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
The last consequence of David’s action became the first to be applied. David pleaded with God and fasted for the child. I don’t doubt that he did so as sincerely as he could.
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Fasting, praying (pleading) or even inconveniencing ourselves to seek God’s blessing or favor is better done before we sin than after. How often do we get serious with God after His chastening hand falls upon us? It is better to fast and pray to be kept from sins deserving such chastisement.
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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.
David was in a deep state of withdrawal. Grief can cause us to do that. This was another very dark period in David’s life and David did as he has done before. He went to the Lord.
1 Sam 30:6 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. NKJV
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There no question that David had erred. We all have erred in different degrees. Whatever degree we have sinned it is all sin to God and God hates sin.
It is import for parents to bring up our children in fear of the Lord. If the child was train or brought up in the Lord, even when he/she goes off the right path they will know how to get back on the right road.
Prov 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. NKJV
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It was David’s practice not to run from God or blame God when things got bad. He got his strength from God. He ran to God.
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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.
God could have healed the child. But never forget that God is a just God. Sin must be paid for. I believe that God really loved David, a man after his own heart. It is because God loved David that He chastised David.
Heb 12:5-6 "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, NKJV
do not despise the chastening. Learn to obey and avoid it.
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Most parents that spank or punish their children do not want to do it. It is an act of love when you do so.
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V18b 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."
When David saw the servants whispering he perceived that the child was dead. He asked and was told that he was. The period was 7 days that the child was ill. I don’t know if this is true but perhaps the seven days was a sign that the chastening pertaining to the son was full and complete. (I’ll try to tell you why later)
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V20 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.
What David did after the child’s death is worthy for us to take note. He got up and washed and anointed (cologne, oil) himself, changed clothes and went to the house of the Lord and worshipped.
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I could go on and on about all the things that David did not do but I don’t want you to leave in knowing all the things not to do but what TO do. David worshipped the Lord. He worshipped the one that allowed the death of His son; He worshipped the one that could have healed his son. This reminds me of Job.
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Often it is in the time of difficulty that what we really think about God and Christ is exhibited.
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What David did was that He placed God in the highest priority over his son and his grief. David knew he had sinned against God. He did everything right to ask god for mercy but in the end He humbled himself under the mighty hand of God. I believe David felt in his heart that God was just.
Then he ate and entered back into a normal life.
When we experience such deep grief. Remember David and what He did when Ziklag was raided? (1Sam 30)
1 Sam 30:6 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.KJV
Take courage in the Lord God
V21 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."
If God is the center of your life and Jesus is the Lord of your life, people around you will be puzzled at the way you handle life’s difficulty.
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David learned that and Paul has been teaching that to us.
Phil 4:6-7 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. NKJV
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V23 Fasting for the child has no value for the child is dead.
There are some faiths that teach that you can be baptized for a dead relative or some teach that you can do something here on earth that will get a loved one into to heaven. That is not the case. There chance to get to heaven or eternal life was while they were here on earth. If you love them encourage them to do so while they have a chance.
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23 …. Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
David asks a very important question. No he cannot bring him back again.
When we a loved one goes on to glory let them go. Rejoice in knowing that they are with the Lord.
Quote: "When you know where someone is, you haven't lost them." Vance Havner
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They will not come to you but you can go to them. I think those are very comforting words when a loved one passes away. Let them go and get back into society. Let others see your faith in God and worship and continue to do so. If you haven’t, start worshipping
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24 Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he* called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him,
Let me just interject here that some reasonable time has passed. Too often we read the Bible as it is written and one could assume that David left church and went to Bathsheba’s bed. There was some time to pass.
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Just as we opened this message by pointing out a subtle mention that Bathsheba was referred to as the wife of Uriah. Look now at her identity. She is referred to as the wife of David.
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This is another most encouraging lesson in this scripture. When God is satisfied it is over. Punishment has been administered and now the slate is clean in regard to David and Bathsheba. God blessed them with a son, a son that God chose to love.
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25 and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet: So he* called his name Jedidiah,* because of the Lord. NKJV
Now if you haven’t learned anything today you have learned that Solomon had two names one given by the Lord. Their first son had no name. Beyond that we/I learned that God does not hold grudges. When the punishment is given and sin is satisfied the relationship is as knew.
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There were three other consequences that were given but this one is over and done with and God authenticates that by the favor shown to this son between David and Bathsheba.
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God hates sin and the wages of sin is death. Sin will not go unpunished. We all have sinned.
Rom 3:23-25 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, … NKJV
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Definition - Propitiation is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ by which He appeases the wrath of God and conciliates Him who would otherwise be offended by our sin and would demand that we pay the penalty for it.
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God hates sin but His love is greater. God is also just and Sin must be paid for. Jesus paid the cost. He paid it all and when He paid it, it was finished.
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Responsive Reading
Ps 51:1-7
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight That You may be found just when You speak,* And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise. NKJV_