During January 1998 the world ‘had its eyes glued’ to the television in an honest attempt to discover the truth as it related to the perceived sexual escapades which President Bill Clinton had with Monica Lewinsky, a twenty-one year intern at the White House. Other observers and so called ‘people of interest’ suggest that concern about Clinton’s affair should not be 'labored' out of proportion; really, they say, "he has not hurt anyone except himself, his family and Lewinsky."
If Clinton’s 'error in judgment', was the first episode of such lewd behavior I, too, might be willing to accept this view. But it is not! David, King of Israel, some four thousand years ago, found himself in a similar precarious and unwanted dilemma with one added damaging attachment i.e. murder of an innocent bystander.
A quick inspection of one of David's crisis demonstrates the true nature of man without God and the radical lasting change that is possible if that person allows God to direct his life by willingly entering the "Stillness Of His Presence"!
DAVID'S TRANSGRESSION:
While sunning on an outdoor balcony of the palace David caught eye of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite, bathing nude on the roof of a nearby flat. Upon seeing her his appetite for immediate sexual gratification raced uncontrollably within himself, and regardless of how evil the act was he reasoned that he had to have her for himself.
David, being the King of Israel, knew that he could have anything and/or anyone he desired simply by commanding it. Therefore, he implored his servant to summon Bathsheba to come to the palace. Upon her arrival David's lust for her raged within him, and what was supposed to be a 'courtesy call' became an opportunity for David to satisfy his passionate desires by sleeping privately with her.
And with ordeal over, David continued to live as if nothing unbecoming had happened. As far as he was concerned this indiscreet encounter would lie buried forever; as long as neither of them said anything about their 'get together', no one would ever know that the event took place. Life in the kingdom, David expected, would go on as it always had.
But everything did not go on 'as it should'! Much to David's surprise and horror, Bathsheba became pregnant during the affair. Within a very short time everyone in the kingdom knew about the affair, and from 'the talk on the streets' David was frightfully certain that Uriah would get the unwelcome news about David's affair with his wife.
Realizing that the affair was going to be publicly exposed, and that his sin was going to be found out, David arranged to have Uriah killed. And with this deed done David now was positive that no further consequences would befall him. But David was sorely mistaken; his sin was going haunt him with unending sorrow, pain and guilt unless he found help in gaining release from its grip.
DAVID'S CONFESSION:
Whereas most of his subjects may have regarded the incident as nothing more than an indiscreet sexual encounter, David admitted that the adulterous relationship with Bathsheba was an act contrived in his mind because of sin which was germinated in his heart. This, he is able to admit after he recollects his thoughts. Unapologetically he says "in sin did my mother conceive me and in iniquity was I born."
This confession removes from David all excuses that he might try to concoct for his inappropriate deportment with Bathsheba.
Furthermore, it demands of David full responsibility for his behavior regardless what the opinion of the people around him might be. In this 'state of mind' David becomes convinced that there is absolutely nothing that he can do to remove the guilt, fear, frustration, and the haunting reality of the heinous act that he has committed. He knows that unless he finds help is he doomed to certain endless despair!
DAVID'S SUBMISSION:
David, now fully resigned to despondency and depression because of overwhelming guilt, knew that a change in his countenance was possible only if he refocused his life towards the God of his former years by repenting of his sin.
With confidence that God would accept him as he was in his sin, David approaches God and pleads with Him to forgive him of his past transgression and to "create within him a clean heart and to restore within him the joy of God's salvation."
DAVID'S VISITATION:
God heard David's prayer and immediately forgave him as He promised He would when He said, "come, now, let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
By the time David was finished his prayer he knew "his sin was removed as far as the east is from the west' and that he was a new man with a new heart because he had been changed from within by the power of God. In spite of the sins that he had committed God welcomed David into His fold. Within a very short time after being restored into God's favor David gained confidence that his life could be worth living by finding direction and fulfillment for it from God.
So radical and lasting was the change that God made in David's heart because of his willingness to seek Him, God called David, "a man after His own heart!" What a commendation to receive! Only a few hours earlier David was despondent and down cast within himself, despised by society, and desperate for forgiveness which he feared he might not receive. But, when he honestly and willingly allowed God to direct his life, David discovered liberty, joy, peace, contentment, and lasting fulfillment for the Lord is "a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and in truth".
DAVID'S SUGGESTION:
Perhaps you have committed some heinous, devious, and unwelcome act of adultery, violence, murder and/or theft which you feel has ruined your life and now you think that there is no hope for you. David's example and testimony should prove to you unconditionally that God loves you in spite of your wayward lifestyle and that He desperately wants you to become "a new creation in Him" through salvation which He has purchased for you by dying on the cross at Calvary.
If David were to speak to you today, I am positive that he would say, "don't become overwhelmed by guilt or by Satan's cunning lies that you have gone too far in your sin." Regardless of what you have done you can be certain that God will accept you if and when you call upon Him.
Consider his gracious offer to you today - "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." This, my friend, is God's unwavering and certain promise to you. Accept His gracious offer by faith and "you will definitely see that the Lord is good!"
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