Tuesday, April 9
Read 2 Samuel 12
Think About It:
- As a prophet, Nathan was required to confront sin, even the sin of a king. It took courage, skill and tact to confront David in a way that made him aware of his wrong actions so that he would not only regret his actions but also own them and repent of them. David had become so insensitive to his own sins that he didn’t realize that he was the villain in Nathan’s story. The qualities that we condemn in others are often our own character flaws. Which family members, friends or associates do you find it easy to criticize and hard to accept? Could it be that in condemning others, you have been condemning yourself? Try asking God to help you understand their feelings and to see your own flaws more clearly.
- David expressed his repentance in Psalm 51. But even though David sincerely admitted his sin, confessed and repented, he still had to face the long ranging consequences of his sin. God forgave David, but the consequences of his sin were irreversible. What are the consequences that you are facing now because of past rebellion and sin that you committed against God? How does this affect you in deciding whether to give in to temptation now, when it arises?
Family Time:
- How did Nathan cause David to recognize his sin? (1-7)
- What did David do after Nathan spoke to him? (13)
- What opportunity did David give to the enemies of the Lord? (14)
- What happened to the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David? (15-18)
- How did David respond upon hearing of the death of the child? (20)
- How did David explain his behavior? (21-23)
