Saturday, September 22, 2012

When Your Secret Sins Aren't So Secret

"He [David] saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful... So David took her... and he lay with her... And the woman conceived...the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." II Sam 12

Look at the sequence of events that takes place in this story: a wrong desire (David wants a married woman), moving toward the desire (he has her brought into his presence), giving in to the desire (he sleeps with her), reaping consequences (she's pregnant), sense of guilt (God condemns David's sin). 


Can you see this pattern in an area of your life? Have you recently gone from desire... to "toeing the line"... to yielding? Are you left with the heavy burden of guilt and shame? 


And yet, the story doesn't end there. It gets worse! The prophet Nathan is sent by God to deliver the following news to David: 

"For you did it [your sin] secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'" 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. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die."
Brief pleasure often leads to long regret. Does it not? David's secret sin (which he thought he had covered every track to keep hidden) is being brought into broad daylight for all to see. Oh the shame! And not only that, but the consequences are costly--his son's life. Can you identify?

Satan is the great deceiver; he twists truth. 

  • Truth: God's mercy is always extended, to cover our sin. Remember, Nathan told David, "The Lord has put away your sin. You shall not die." What forgiveness! And yet, this was not enough to release David from repercussions of his sin.
  • Lie: God's forgiveness releases us from the consequences of our sin. Remember, David was also told, "because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die."
So how are we to respond when the guilt of our sin has been lifted, but the shame and consequences follow us? Let's look back at the story of David.
And the Lord afflicted the child... and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground... [when he] understood that the child was dead... then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped." II Sam 12 
All the sudden you find yourself exposed--the sin you thought you had so-well hidden is brought to light. You're overwhelmed with shame. What should be your response?
  1. Confess your sin.  "I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin." Ps. 38:18
  2. Accept the Lord's forgiveness"I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" Is. 43:25.
  3. Plead for God's mercy over the consequences of your sin. David stated, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'" II Sam. 12:22
  4. Worship the Lord because He has removed your eternal guilt. "Restore to me the joy of your salvation." Ps. 51: 12a; We have joy, even in the midst of shame, because He has removed our eternal guilt! "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1
God takes our ashes (that which we have made a mess of) and somehow makes it beautiful. He is working--yes, even in the ugly, stinky consequences of your sin--for your good and His glory. He will not leave you alone, but will walk with you--even through this. THAT is reason to worship our Savior! THIS is the power of the cross--bringing hope, even in shame. Cling tightly to the cross... and worship.



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