LINK: 2 Samuel 12:14 - 13:39
BACKGROUND
Because of David's sin, God pronounced two judgments on him. The first was that there would always be strife in his family, and the second was that the child would die. The baby only lived a week after birth, and the family strife began in today's reading with Ammon's rape of Tamar.
REFLECTION
As long as there was hope that God could change his mind, David plead with God for the life of the child. But once he knew God had not relented and the child died, he accepted God's decision as final and worshiped him.
APPLICATION
When we sin, we (as well as others around us) suffer the consequences. God is merciful, but he doesn't usually remove the natural consequences of our actions. And sometimes he imposes further consequences on us. He disciplines us because he loves us, and I believe this is what God was doing with David. We need to know that we can't "get away with" blatant sin against God. But God "disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). His goal isn't simple to punish us, but to make us holy.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to be made holy. I know that the process involved is sometimes painful, because you are a loving Father who disciplines us. But you also give us comfort. You require obedience but also walk beside us. Thank you for being the all-wise, perfectly loving Father. Because of Jesus, Amen.
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