Reaping What You Sow, Rising Above the Occasion – 2 Samuel 12:15-23

Everyday, we as people pursue all the benefit life has to offer.  The more we receive, the more we want, sometimes wanting to the point of forsaking all things to get them.  God had called David to the throne sixteen years before he ever took it. The path leading to the throne was not an easy one for him.  Adversity was David’s lot.  Yet no matter the course, no matter the obstacles, David was never too proud to return to God in reconciliation and as a result he remained blessed, but no amount of repenting prevented David from reaping the seed of his actions. 

Though David sinned before God when his eyes looked in a direction outside the will of His Creator, God had blessed him with the kingship, blessed him with the respect of all who followed, lacking in nothing.  Yet like us all, within David’s heart, a thorn of lust took root in his heart.  Sin began to grow with only a thought.  The Bible tells us, “for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  The very seed in his heart now bore the fruit of his tree in his actions, deeds, and words.  The country was at war and while David’s forces fought for the lives of the people, David sat home.  Have you heard the old saying, “an idle mind is the devil’s playgound?” 

While his men fought, David remained home.  Relaxing up on the rooftop, David glances across the way and what do you think happened? David’s eye catches sight of the most beautiful of women.  It was all over for him now?  The devil had planted the seed of lust.  Here, a decision or choice had to be made.  Unfortunately, David chooses to give life to the seed by dwelling on the desires of his heart.  Just as a thorn pierces the very thing it touches, so too does the fleshly desires of this man affect others.

In his weakness, sin took root and began to grow.  David, however, knowingly pursued the very thing he knew wasnt his, for this prize belonged to another man.  Knowing that did not deter him though.  The seed of the sin was already growing in his heart and had begun to show up in his actions.  Blinded by his fleshly desires, he plans an innocent man’s death to have this man’s wife.  How many of you know that what’s done in the dark will eventually come out in the light?  David’s plan may have suceeded, but at who’s expense?  Who would know the better?  Do you know nothing is free?  Lives were lost that day! What value is a man’s life?  Had David considered the cost to achieve his end goal?  Everyday, many people attempt to achieve a goal, never considering the cost, much less consider how their actions may affect others.  David’s actions may have brought about the end goal, but the lives of Uriah and his own men were the means to David’s end.

Do you know for every action there is a consequence for that action?  Here sin brought about death to innocent lives not to mention David’s spiritual separation from God.  If David only knew what was to come.  Upon hearing of Uriah’s death and mourning, David takes Bathsheba as his wife.  She, already pregnant, later bears a son to the king, an heir to his throne, but not every blessing brings about good results.

David’s union was not blessed by God. Lives were wrongly lost to bring about this union. Though God’s judgment wasnt immediate, judgment was inevitable and imminent.  Nothing would stop what was about to come to pass.  Through judgment, God teaches David that there are consequences to every action.  What was meant to be a time of joy and blessing, now becomes a time of sadness and loss.  Though the child dies just as Nathan prophesies, David accepts God’s judgment. 

How would you react to God telling you that the death of your child is your judgment? What would be running through your mind as you watch judgment unfold?  Would your attitude change toward God?  Would you reject Him?  Would you accept the consequences of your actions and go on, or would you harden your heart toward God?

David sinned. He experienced the pain of his actions.  Yet he remained true to God, reconciling himself to the One Who gave him life. David didn’t let the consequences of his life change his heart toward serving God.  Will you like David rise above the occasion?  Will you look inside yourself placing blame where blame is due or would you blame God for your actions?  David recognized his sin, took responsibility for his actions, accepted God judgment and lifted his head to continue serve him.

Tags: Adversity, Bathsheba, Bible, Blessed, consequences, David's heart, David's lot, David's throne, deeds, Devil, Fleshly desires, Forsaking things, Fruit of our actions, God, God's judgment, Idle mind is the devil's playground, Judgment, King David, Kingship, Life's Benefits, Lust, Nathan, Obstacles, Reaping what we sow, Reconciliation, Sin, Spiritual separation, The will of God, Uriah, Weaknesses, words