Accepting God’s Will

2 Samuel 12:15-25

¹⁵Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.

¹⁶David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

¹⁷And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

¹⁸On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”

¹⁹But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”

²⁰Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.

²¹Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

²²He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

²³But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

²⁴Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him

²⁵and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

All of us rail against the will of God on occasion. Accepting that His plans are better than ours can be difficult and we can fall into patterns of begging and whining, try to cajole God into seeing things our way. While God always wants us to express our cares, concerns and even desires to Him, whining probably has no impact on His plans or decisions.

David has received the edict from God concerning his sin with Bathsheba. God has chosen to take the life of the child born of their union. We are in no position to even discuss God’s “fairness” in taking the child. We leave that to His grace, mercy, and infinite wisdom. We can look at are David’s reactions and glean from them information about our own lives with God. After David’s confession and repentance, we find him rather intellectually accepting what comes next. While there is still a chance that the child might live, he prays and fasts, seeking God’s mercy. The conversation that went on during that marathon prayer session remains between David and God. What we do know is that David kept the topic on the table for as long as it was viable. When God’s will becomes clear, David accepts it without complaint (that we know of). Even David’s servants were somewhat mystified by his reactions. What we see are the actions of a man who accepts that God’s ways are the best and who acquiesces to them even if they are not his first choice. Once again, even though this lesson comes on the heels of hideous sin, David’s responses are admirable. God’s will is always best and acceptable.

As mentioned in the last devotional, Psalm 51 recounts the feelings of David’s heart after he has come to see his sin the way God sees it. Here are a few of the verses that are particularly gripping in light of the events that immediately precede the writing of these words.

¹  Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

²  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

³  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

⁴  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

⁵  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶  Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

⁷  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

⁹  Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;

¹⁹ then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Well, actually, it’s the whole Psalm. There was nothing to leave out! When you know the back story, the words of this psalm take on extra meaning and poignancy. These are the words of a man who still loves God above all else and desires to live out His will daily. When David is restored, it is all-encompassing. Our restoration to God’s side can always be all-encompassing as well. His grace doesn’t hold back anything that we need. The forgiveness is perfect and complete. Just as David is brought back from months of wandering away from God, so we can be brought back as well, even if we’ve only wandered for a few days or even hours. God is all about restoration! Not just David’s but yours too!