Daily Devotional for Thursday, December 14

David the Sorrowful

“And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul,” 2 Samuel 12:7.

Have you ever gotten upset by an injustice? If we see someone or something mistreated, we will often speak up in defense of his rights. God sent the prophet Nathan to King David to show David his sin. Nathan told a story of a poor man who only owned one ewe lamb and a rich man with many flocks and herds (2 Samuel 12:2, 3). The poor man loved the lamb like a family member. However, when the rich man needed an animal to prepare for a visitor, instead of killing one of his many animals, he killed the poor man’s only lamb. This story infuriated David. He told Nathan, “As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die” (verse 5).

Nathan then explained to David that he was the man. He was guilty of taking something from someone else, when God had blessed him tremendously. David did not need anything, but his desire for Bath- sheba clouded his judgment. David ultimately broke three of the Ten Commandments with Bath-sheba. He coveted his neighbor’s wife, he committed adultery, and he committed murder by having Uriah (Bath- sheba’s husband) killed. David was so consumed by his lust that he had not really recognized his condition until Nathan shared this parable. Only after Nathan exposed his sin did David truly realize what he had done. David admitted, “I have sinned against the Lord” (verse 13).

We often rush to judgment about perceived injustices. We focus on the sinful actions of others and often disregard our own condition. We are quick to judge someone else and his sins, while excusing our own behavior. As a dear member once told me, “You do not need to sweep off someone else’s porch until you have swept off your own porch.”

JUST A THOUGHT: Do not worry about someone else’s Christian walk. Focus on your walk.

Chris Floyd