A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns
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David himself had called for the stolen sheep to be repaid fourfold, and that was the price<br />
David would have to pay. In the months and years to come, David would see his own children<br />
victimized and suffer as a consequence of his night with Bathsheba and subsequent covering of<br />
his sin. A baby would die. A daughter would be raped by her own brother who would then be<br />
killed by another son. As David lost the moral leadership of the land, one of his own sons would<br />
lead a coup strong enough to send David running from his own palace. <strong>The</strong> consequence of this<br />
sin would run its course until the fourfold punishment was paid in full. <strong>The</strong> mighty King David<br />
was powerless to control these circumstances. <strong>The</strong>re was nothing he could do but watch the<br />
events unfold in the years to come, and contemplate the serious consequences and severe penalty<br />
of sin. Before his account was stamped “paid in full,” there would be tears and anger, sadness<br />
and fear. Not even the king was above the Law of God.<br />
It was time for David to stop trying to hide his sin and begin dealing with it. As he turned back to<br />
God in repentance, he prayed what has since become one of the most beloved of all of the<br />
psalms. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the<br />
multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions” (Ps. 51:1). In the course of his<br />
prayer, David traveled the seven successive steps back to the place of full communion with and<br />
service for God. When David repented, Nathan reported a second message from heaven. “<strong>The</strong><br />
Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Sam. 12:13).<br />
Though God forgave David, there were still problems. “However, because by this deed<br />
you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is<br />
born to you shall surely die” (v. 14). Nathan left the palace, but before long David received word<br />
his youngest son was extremely sick. For a week he prayed and fasted to the Lord for the child,<br />
but the child’s condition only got worse.
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