“Why did you despise the word of the LORD …? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”
2 Samuel 12:9
Of course, our sin is rarely just against the Lord (though that in itself is heinous enough!). An incident comes to mind when I dropped my son off at a golf lesson one day and then went for a walk with my toddler. Due to poor time management, I got back after all the other kids had been picked up. My son was incredibly hurt and felt abandoned. I felt horrible! My carelessness was an offense to him, and I was very aware of it.
I wish I could say that we were all more awake to our offenses against God, but it is usually our offense against others that pricks us. Our illusions about being “good people” fall away when we see the hurt we’ve caused as it is reflected in the eyes of others.
David killed his faithful servant Uriah and took his wife. This egregious sin led to the death of the child they conceived together. Imagine David trying to comfort Bathsheba after all of that! There is no explanation; there is only sorrow and contrition. The wounds we cause speak to our own wounds, and we must lift them all to the One who was wounded in our place.
I wish I could say that we were all more awake to our offenses against God, but it is usually our offense against others that pricks us. Our illusions about being “good people” fall away when we see the hurt we’ve caused as it is reflected in the eyes of others.
David killed his faithful servant Uriah and took his wife. This egregious sin led to the death of the child they conceived together. Imagine David trying to comfort Bathsheba after all of that! There is no explanation; there is only sorrow and contrition. The wounds we cause speak to our own wounds, and we must lift them all to the One who was wounded in our place.
Scripture Focus
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Insight
Your sin against another person will cause sorrow to your own heart. Let that grief drive you to the Man of Sorrows.
Bible In A Year
- 2 Chronicles 1-2
- Psalm 8
- Matthew 12