Friday 1st November
Read 2 Samuel 12:16-20
“David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. 17 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.
18 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.’
19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realised that the child was dead. ‘Is the child dead?’ he asked.
‘Yes,’ they replied, ‘he is dead.’
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went 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.” (NIVUK)
How mysterious do you find David’s behaviour? Do you find it as strange as those who witnessed it? What we need to understand is that David’s behaviour is the surest evidence we could have that he was truly repentant. The death sentence was pronounced on his son. But the grace and forgiveness shown towards David was such that he spent the entire time on his knees pleading with God for his son’s life also.
The sin in David’s heart was selfish greed, taking what did not belong to him and refusing to trust the generosity of God. In response to the punishing word of God, David spends seven days, in pre-mourning, denying himself food and rest, on behalf of another. It is a level of self-denial and self-sacrifice that was concerning to behold.
When the answer to his prayers was negative, when death reigned in response to David’s sin and the punishment was complete. Then, and only then, did David resume with life. Sometimes we can be so bound up in guilt and shame at our sin that we refuse to live the life won for us by Jesus’ death on our behalf. David here shows us what repentance looks like. But he also shows us what the appropriate response to grace and forgiveness is. We need to spend time meditating on this lesson daily.
