Feb 20 2009
Lessons From Loss
Second Samuel contains a story of loss, a story of betrayal, a story of repentence. The overarching theme in this story is God’s invisible yet very real presence. His superintendence of all the events which come together to create the outcome. It is an old story very practical for modern times.
In 2nd Samuel we have the story of David, Bathsheba, and Nathan. While most know the story of David and Bathsheba, Nathan may not be as well known. However, he plays a key role in our understanding of the passage because he is God’s mouthpiece.
You probably remember the story. David was at home instead of at war with his armies. One night he couldn’t sleep. He went strolling on his rooftop. From his vantage point he saw a beautiful woman bathing.
From here the story goes downhill. Adultary. Murder. Lies. Deceit. And, to David’s knowledge no one knows for sure what he has done. He has covered his trail well. However, when Nathan comes into the story, we find out God knew EVERYTHING.
Lesson one: It is impossible to hide anything from God. He sees everything, even our thoughts and intents.
“When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. . .
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ‘I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! . . .”
Lesson Two: When confronted with our sin, we MUST admit and repent. If you think about how David might have responded, his response is somewhat surprising. Think about it.
David was king. Later kings, when confronted with their sins, tried to kill the messenger (i.e. Ahab and Elijah). Furthermore, David had gone to great lengths to cover his acts. In other words, he was embroiled in his sin. He can’t have taken exposure lightly.
“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. “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.” “
Lesson Three: We never know God’s secret will. David had just been told his son was going to die. What was his response? Depression? No. Defeat? No. His response: “who can tell?”
David humbled himself in fasting and prayer. So intense was his pleading with God for his son’s life, his servants feared to tell him when the child eventually died.
“Then Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 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. 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!” “
“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.” “
Lesson Four - Perhaps the most surprising lesson we can learn from this story is in David’s response to the loss of his son. As R.C. Sproul put it, “When God said no to the pleas of David, he immediately went to chruch - not to whine or complain, but to worship. . .he was willing to bow before the providence of God, to let God be God.”
“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. 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.” “
“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?’ “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.” “
Lesson Five: If we understand God’s providence over every event and every occurence - even the smallest things:
— we are able to worship correctly, even in the face of sorrow, pain, and suffering
— our trust grows as we understand God really is working in and through our situation
Lesson Six: David’s response was difficult for his servants to understand. They were even so puzzled they risked questioning his actions. The world will often look upon us in amazement, even horror, when we respond to hard providence with trust and confidence. That is a large part of our witness.
God’s providence working in and through all the events in our lives is one of the hardest things for us to grasp. However, as we see in David’s life, there is much for us to learn from the trials and challenges He places in our paths. May He grant us the grace to do so.
