Read 2 Samuel 12:13-15 – 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.” Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill. (NKJV)

Fridays with David

When Nathan confronts David’s sin, a couple of possibilities emerge. David could respond defensively or with his power as king and have Nathan put to death for such an accusation or he could respond in humility, knowing he was really responding to God. Wisely, David chose the latter, but the other option existed and demonstrates David’s humble heart. Modern leaders can use their power to cover up their failures too. But those who remain humble enough to be corrected are more likely to recover from their times of failure. Thomas Dewar observed, “An honest confession is great for the soul, but hard on the reputation.” In other words, it can be easy to find a reason not to confess when we have failed. However, the result is hardly a path leading where you want to go. How do you respond when you’ve failed? Do you accept responsibility, do you try to distance yourself from the failure, or do you blame others? While David’s sin was grievous indeed, his decision to confess his sin started the journey toward hope and healing. It may have been the best decision he made in the latter years of his reign.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.

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