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Thoughts on the Bible Readings (2 Samuel 12, Jeremiah 16 and Matthew 27) for July 26th
Episode 973
2 Samuel 12 is about the LORD's restoration of David from his low ebb of wilful sin against his Heavenly Father to the time of David's resuming full and free fellowship with God. The prophet Nathan is sent to king David with a parable that was designed to wake the king from his state of selfishness and stir him into a recognition of what he had done. Only true repentance could restore him and the lesson learnt becomes an impetus for each of us to turn to the LORD to find healing. Nathan tells a parable about a wealthy arrogant and self centred man who takes from the poor man a precious ewe lamb, that was like a daughter to that man. How typical it is for some wealthy individuals to believe that the destitute exist for them to be exploited. This, however, was not characteristic of David. And so David was enraged at the lack of pity which the rich man had shown. Sin was the traveller who came to David and who caused David to behave uncharacteristically. The king commanded the death of the rich man and compensation of four times the loss be paid to the poor man. This was of course what the Law had demanded for a trespass offering. This offering spoke of restitution for deceit in relation to the holy things. Nathan dramatically says to David: You are the man. David fully understands his guilt, deception and lack of pity. David is condemned by his own mouth and is worthy to die. No offering could cover his sin. All he could do was to throw himself upon the mercy of the Almighty. The prophet says that the sword would not depart from David's house. David was to pay with the loss of four sons - the child that was born of his adultery with Bathsheba, Absalom, Amnon and Adonijah. As king David had done with Uriah's wife Bathsheba, so would David's son - Absalom - do with the wives of his father David - but openly before all Israel. Nathan tells the king that Yahweh has put away David's transgression. Our sins will be forgiven if we repent and turn our hearts to our Sovereign. That doesn't mean that there will not be consequences flowing from our wrongs. Verses 16-23 tells us that the child born to Bathsheba became sick and died. David entreated his Maker to allow the child to live. The king was full of contrition and afflicted himself with fasting and not allowing music in his presence. When his son died David's servants were frightened to tell him lest he do something regrettable. But David rose up and washed putting on fresh clothes. They asked him why? He said he had hoped that God would show mercy to the child, but now the child had died entreating was pointless. David would, when he died, join his son in the unconscious sleep of death. Consolation was given to David and Bathsheba in the birth of another son who was born in a manner that pleased their Heavenly Father. Verse 26 records that Yahweh loved this child who was given the epithet - Jedidiah meaning "loved of Yah" and that child was later named Solomon meaning "peaceful". After being forgiven David wrote Psalms 32 and 51 to celebrate the mercy and loving kindness of the LORD God Almighty and to teach others about turning to their loving Father in the time of their need - see also Paul's comments in Romans 4 verses 5-8. 2 Samuel 12 finishes by describing the fall of Rabbah to Joab and the army and Joab's summoning David to be there as the city fell. It also describes David being crowned with the crown of the king of Rabbah and the great treasure taken. The Ammonites were then put to rigorous work by David.
Jeremiah 16 verses 1-4 tell of the LORD commanding Jeremiah not to marry because of the nearing judgments of God on Judah. The nation would be destroyed through famine, warfare and diseases leaving their carcasses as unburied dung on the ground. Verses 5-9 speak of the vast extent of the destruction. There would be no time to mourn the dead because of the uproar and chaos that rapidly spread over Judah. Normal life would be suspended as the exiles were dragged a
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