I don’t know subtle. I don’t know how to beat around the bush. I say what I mean and mean what I say. I don’t have time to mince words.
There is sin throughout all that. Pride. Why? I have a hard time genuinely hearing people. I have a hard time slowing down to listen. I suck at hearing the people that need to hear what God has asked me to tell them. End result? Neither of us are heard.
I personify an issue that I struggle with. I need people to be direct with me. I need people to also hear me. But I don’t slow down enough to hear what others need to say to me, and I don’t slow down enough to fully express myself. In this place, I lack self-awareness and I become blind to my own sin. Can you relate to anything I’m barfing on this page? Am I alone in this?
Something recently struck me with David. David, a man that loved God, worshipped God, did incredible things for God, was used by God in amazing ways, fell, and fell hard. He wanted a women. Lusted after her. Took her in. Slept with her. Got her pregnant. Then had her husband killed. (2 Samuel 11)
When I read this, I was so confused. This isn’t David. David has a man murdered? David the man that placed such value on life?
“Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’” ~1 Samuel 24:10
“when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?” ~2 Samuel 4:10-11 ESV
David, although a warrior, valued life. He honored God in this. Would he attack the enemies of God? Yes. But the life of his people, God’s people? He valued greatly. David once would have greatly valued the life of Uriah (the man he had killed). Uriah was a member of his army and an honorable man. David once would have valued this man’s life. So what changed? David’s focus.
He became consumed by lust. He became consumed by sin. End result? He became blind to things he once valued. What was once valued was no longer valued. That is a natural result when we elevate sin to a place of value. As sin rises on our list of values, other items must fall.
"That is a natural result when we elevate sin to a place of value."
So as we turn the page from 2 Samuel 11 to chapter 12, we see David in need of some tough love. Nathan was asked of God to speak some hard words to David. He tells David a story. David reacts. His reaction shows his misguided values. He values life in speech but not in action. God, through Nathan, does not mince words.
Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.” 2 Samuel 12:5-9
There is a time to slow down. There is a time to listen. There is a time to speak, and there is a time to be heard. I don’t know all who will read this. But for some reading this, sin is knocking at the door. Sin looks attractive right now. As sin is rising up your list of values, things you once valued, noble things, are falling. You once valued your family. Perhaps your family hasn’t changed; your values have.
Hear these words now. Put the hard work in now before failure versus the hard work that will be needed after failure. Stay connected to Jesus despite your feelings. Read His word. Reach out to help. Be open and honest with trusted friends. Pray and don’t stop praying. Choose wisdom despite feelings.
"Pray and don’t stop praying. Choose wisdom despite feelings."
This is a devo, blog, message first written to the author: me. I write this from a place of need. In humility, I confess these words are for me. Stay connected to Jesus.
Keep Praying for One-
Written by Pastor Jason Coache,
Lead Pastor of Wellspring Church
