2 SAMUEL 12:7-10 – Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.’”
When we hear the word “sin” preached, read in a book, discussed in a class or fellowship group, what comes across our minds? Or better yet, how do we define it? The word literally means “falling short”, “missing the mark”, and “to violate divine law”. The late Dr.James Boice wrote on sin’s definition, “We miss God’s high mark of perfection, falling short of it in the same way an arrow might fall short of a target.
In today’s scripture we get another definition of sin; a serious definition, an eye-opening definition, a heart-pounding definition, and one Christians must seek to internalize in their minds and hearts. It is this definition which should lead to an intense battle daily against sin, avoiding it at all cost, and shaping everything we do, say, and think in life. In this definition is God’s heart toward sin. It is also a great motivator causing us to pursue with great zeal sin’s opposite–holiness. So, let’s enter the scene . . .
The opening of 2 Samuel 12 finds Nathan giving David a parable. It was about two men. One rich, the other poor. As the parable unfolds, Nathan reveals the ugly selfishness, insensitivity, and greed in the rich man. As this unfolds, David grows in anger and that leads to today’s response from Nathan and God’s definition of sin. By the way, take time today, go back and read from verse one to get the full impact of what is unfolding.
As Nathan indicts David for his sin of murder, adultery, and deception, he brings the direct words of the Lord to bear on David’s heart about what He has done. Here is how the Lord defines the multiple layers of sin David committed and did so intentionally – Why then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.’ See the repeated word? Despised. Now see what it is connected to–God’s Word and God’s Person; you despised the command of the Lord and you despised Me.
Friends, that is how God defines sin–all sin. It is a despising of His Word and Person. The verb “despise” means to “regard with contempt, to think lightly of, consider worthless.” Doesn’t that put a chillin our hearts? Any sin we allow or entertain, in the eyes of God, is to think lightly of His Word, His Person, even ignore their value. How that should radically impact our view on sin–all sin–and intensify our war against it! May God help us to grasp what sin really is and live accordingly pursuing its opposite–holiness.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see the true nature of sin and in doing so, do daily battle against it in my life.”
QUOTE: “Sin is not a mistake.It is a grievous offense against our Holy God who crushed His Son for it.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim