Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says, Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel, and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.” 2 Samuel 12:5-7 LSB
After David committed adultery by sleeping with Bathsheba and murder by having her husband Uriah killed, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David to confront him with his sin. Nathan used a parable about a rich man with many lambs taking a poor man’s only lamb and slaughtering it to feed his guest. David was appalled at the behavior of this man. David, as king, was also a judge. He pronounced a death sentence for the man who had done this.
Sadly, Nathan had to point out to David that he was the man who had done this. God then reminded David of all He had done for him and all He would have continued to do for him. In verse 9, he asked David, “Why have you despised the word of Yahweh by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of Ammon.”
The sad truth is David traded one night of pleasure for a lifetime of suffering and pain.
David had sinned against the God he loved. God punished David for his sin as a loving father punishes a rebellious child. The punishment for adultery and murder was death, but God spared David’s life. Instead, He told him that the sword would never leave his house. There would always be turmoil among family members.
David had slept with Uriah’s wife in secret, but God told him that someone else would sleep with his wife in daylight in front of everyone. And sadly, the baby conceived by David and Bathsheba would die.
The Bible tells us our sins will be found out. It tells us that what we do in darkness will come to light. Jesus said in Luke 12:2-3 that nothing covered up will not be revealed, nothing hidden will not be known and whatever is said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and whatever is whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the rooftops.
Like David, we like to tell ourselves that we can hide our sins. We try to convince ourselves that if we do a good job of covering them up, no one will ever know. God knows. We also like to believe we can sin and get away with it. These are all lies the devil tells us.
The truth hurts. The truth is our sin will be found out and God will deal with us. We will pay for our sins.
Another truth is that being a Christian isn’t easy. We must go through the narrow gate and travel the difficult road. Sadly, the truth is few will find it (Matthew 7:13-14).
The most painful truth is many sit in church pews on Sunday mornings, give to charity, or do work at their church thinking they are saved and assured an eternity in heaven. In Matthew 7:23 Jesus clearly states that many will face the final judgment and will be told, “Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity.”
The devil lies and tells us a loving God will overlook our sins and we will not face consequences. The truth hurts, but we must know that God will discipline us when we do wrong. We also must know we are saved, we know this by a change in our hearts. We know we are saved if we strive to do God’s will not our own will.
In Matthew 7:21 Jesus tells us only those who do God’s will, will enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Don’t believe the devil’s lies just because they sound better than the truth. The truth is painful at times, but it will set you free from the sin and bondage of Satan’s lies (John 8:32).
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus Christ is the truth. Trust in Him today. Do not be deceived by the devil’s lies.
Have a great day!