September 9, 2024
Discovering the Forgiveness of God
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
Read 2 Samuel 11:1-12:14.
David was a man with uncommon faith in the Lord. So, when he committed adultery and then murdered the woman’s husband, it was completely out of character. Thankfully, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David’s sin—to invite him to take the first step toward restoration.
Nathan told David a parable about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had plenty of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had one little lamb. He cared for the lamb as though it were his own daughter, even letting it sleep in his arms. One day, a traveler arrived at the rich man’s house, but rather than preparing a meal with one of his own animals, the rich man stole the poor man’s lamb and served it to his guest.
When David heard this, he was outraged. But then Nathan dropped a bomb: “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). In Nathan’s parable, the poor man was Uriah, and the lamb was Bathsheba. And the reason that prompted the rich man’s act was the traveler, who represents David’s restless desire, his wandering eyes. The traveler symbolizes the invasive thoughts that enter our minds when we have neglected to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Just as the rich man stole the lamb from the poor man to please his guest, so David had stolen Bathsheba from Uriah to please his wandering eyes.
David was struck by the meaning of the parable and immediately confessed, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). David was never perfect, nor sinless, but his heart longed to please God. That’s why he immediately owned up to his responsibilities and accepted the consequences with courage.
God forgave David fully, but David’s sin left its share of scars. While the forgiveness of God wipes away our sin and shame, it does not alter the fact that sin is a transgression of righteousness and has terrible consequences. You see, God forgives sin at an enormous cost. He watched His Son die on the cross to atone for our sin; therefore, we must remain vigilant against sin and keep a short account with God, confessing our sins and repenting as soon as we are convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes the scars of disobedience will remain for a long time, but don’t let those scars remind you only of the act of disobedience; let them, above all, remind you of the grace of Christ, of the love and forgiveness of the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the ways I have sinned against others and thereby against You. I repent and long for Your forgiveness and restoration. Give me the courage to seek reconciliation with those I have harmed. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ Nathan replied, ‘The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die’” (2 Samuel 12:13).
Learn more in Dr. Michael Youssef’s sermon series A Heart for God: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW
Today’s devotional is adapted from Dr. Michael Youssef’s NEW book A Heart for God. Visit LTW.org to request your copy for your gift of any amount by October 19, 2024! (Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada.)
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