2 Samuel 11
The first clue that something is wrong comes in the first verse. "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men....But David remained in Jerusalem." David should have been with his army, that was where the king belonged. Instead he sent someone else. The story plunges into disaster from this point forward. He knowingly sleeps with a woman married to one of his soldiers. He tries to cover his action, but Uriah is righteous and will not sleep with his own wife while the army is at war. In desperation he creates a plan where Uriah will be killed in battle. After Uriah's death, David takes Uriah's wife to be his. The chapter ends with this "But the thing David had done displeased the Lord." Maybe one of the great understatements in the Bible!
Prior to this, most of the story about David has been one of his faith and obedience in following God. Here is fails miserably. But God does not give up on him. Spend a few minutes to read chapter 12 and see how God uses Nathan to draw David to repentance. In his repentance, he engages his life once again with God.
Next time you think that your actions are so horrible that God could never forgive you. Remember David's adultery and murder, and God forgives him. God will forgive you.
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It's amazing to me that God loves us so much that He will forgive us for anything we do as long as we fully and truly repent our sins to Him. There is no one else who would do such a thing for us. It is hard for me to offer forgiveness to people in some situations. And yet, the question is why? Who am I to judge them when I, too have sinned? I have no room to do so. I have often wondered if it is a sin not to forgive people. That is what God wants us to do, offer forgiveness as He offers it to us.
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