It’s only a mistake… Day 3

Please read 2 Samuel 11:1-27 & 2 Samuel 12:1-14

In the 1990s, I watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show. In that episode, Oprah confronts a married policeman in his late 30s. The policeman, on two separate occasions, had affairs with two under-15 baby-sitters of his children. I will never forget the man’s words that he kept on repeating, “other than those two mistakes, I am good man”.  He broke the law by having affairs with minor girls – but he reasoned he just committed mistakes.  (I don’t know what happened after the airing of the show- whether the policeman was prosecuted or not.)

In 2 Samuel 11, we read about David, Bathsheba and Uriah. The story and David’s transgressions are well known to all of us. Here is a great King, in fact the greatest King in Israel’s History.  He is gifted and he is a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) yet he sinned and ignored his actions (sins). 

In 2 Samuel 12, we see Nathan confronting David and only then does David realize his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). David does not say what his sin is. Is it just sexual sin or adultery, as most believe? When we carefully study 2 Samuel 11, we learn that David breaks all of God’s commandments coming to a fellow man (Exodus 20: 13-17).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, during this season of reflection and repentance, let us examine our hearts and minds to confront the sins that we many, many times (conveniently) label as mistakes and sometimes as weaknesses. Now we might not have a prophet like Nathan in our lives, but we do have God’s Spirit and His Word to teach us our sins.

God the Holy Spirit, please prompt me to examine my self, recognize my sins, confess them and turn to Jesus. Amen.