Even The Innocent Can Be Affected By Our Sins
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth, on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, ‘’While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.’’ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. ‘’Is the child dead?’’ he asked. ‘’Yes,’’ they replied. . . .
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went up into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
His attendants asked him, ‘’Why are you acting this way? . . . He answered, ‘’While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’’ 2 Samuel 12:15-23.
David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth, on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, ‘’While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.’’ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. ‘’Is the child dead?’’ he asked. ‘’Yes,’’ they replied. . . .
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went up into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
His attendants asked him, ‘’Why are you acting this way? . . . He answered, ‘’While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’’ 2 Samuel 12:15-23.
The pronouncement of divine judgment finally brought David to his senses and he immediately cried out to God for forgiveness. God forgave David and spared his life. David should have died for committing adultery and taking the life of Uriah. The grace of God is beyond understanding!
A few things are worth noting:
First: God struck the child dead. The child was innocent in the whole ordeal but David’s sin caused God to strike the child dead as part of the divine judgment. Our sins can cause even the innocent, including children, to be adversely affected. This is food for thought.
Second: David fasted and prayed for God to spare the child. When we fall into sin, we must seek God passionately in fasting and prayer because he could well show mercy even with the consequences of our sins. Sin should drive us to our knees before God.
Third: When David was told that the child was dead, he got up, cleaned himself up and went straight to the House of God. In times of affliction, we should not absent ourselves from the House of God. Worship should be a priority; even depression can be cured through worship.
Finally: David remarked that the child would not return to him but he would go to where the child was. This can mean two things: David would die and join the child in the grave or David would join the child in heaven. Death is real and Heaven is real! Let’s be mindful of that.
A few things are worth noting:
First: God struck the child dead. The child was innocent in the whole ordeal but David’s sin caused God to strike the child dead as part of the divine judgment. Our sins can cause even the innocent, including children, to be adversely affected. This is food for thought.
Second: David fasted and prayed for God to spare the child. When we fall into sin, we must seek God passionately in fasting and prayer because he could well show mercy even with the consequences of our sins. Sin should drive us to our knees before God.
Third: When David was told that the child was dead, he got up, cleaned himself up and went straight to the House of God. In times of affliction, we should not absent ourselves from the House of God. Worship should be a priority; even depression can be cured through worship.
Finally: David remarked that the child would not return to him but he would go to where the child was. This can mean two things: David would die and join the child in the grave or David would join the child in heaven. Death is real and Heaven is real! Let’s be mindful of that.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to be mindful of the effects of my sins even on the innocent. Help me not to be so selfish as to ignore the real impact of my sin on others. Amen.