Zero

Chapter 11 of 2 Samuel opens with the phrase “it happened.” Well, we have all had “it happened” moments –Those moments we wish hadn’t happened and probably prefer not to talk about or even think about. This chapter describes this type of moment for King David…one that would affect him for the rest of his life. The first verse explains:

“It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”

At this point, David had great victory and success in battle, so it was certainly odd that the king of Israel would stay behind, while his men went out to battle. Perhaps, he was starting to get bored, maybe even idle. This was when temptation struck:

“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” –2 Samuel 11:2 (NKJV)

Noticing the woman was one thing, but he took it further by inquiring about her. Upon discovering that this woman, Bathsheba, was married (v. 3), he should have been deterred, but he wasn’t. He, instead, sent for her and she came, willingly. He may have initiated their adultery, but she cooperated with it.

Unfortunately, their short-lived tryst had life-long consequences, which reached beyond just the two of them. Verses 4 and 5 tell us that Bathsheba conceived as a result of their encounter.

It was then that the Lord sent Nathan to David and rather than scold him, Nathan used gentleness and tact to explain David’s sin to him.

In 2 Samuel 12:1-3 (NKJV), Nathan shared the parable of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had many flocks, and the poor man had one little ewe he had nourished. The rich man, rather than pick from his own vast flocks, took the poor man’s single cherished ewe, and prepared it for a traveler who had come to him. David had a great harem and many wives, while Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba, had just one wife. David could have chosen anyone one of his women that night, but he chose another man’s wife instead.

When David heard the parable, he was not thinking of his own sin and judged the rich man harshly for what he had done. He said in verse 5, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” Nathan then said, “7You are the man.”

David finally recognized the gravity of his sin and said, “13aI have sinned against the Lord.” He didn’t make excuses, he plainly admitted his sin. David was at his lowest and probably felt like a Zero in God’s eyes. Yet, Nathan replied, “13bThe Lord also has put away your sin,” but let him know that there would be grave consequences for his sin–the death of his child (v. 14).

Here is an important lesson:

If you cover your sin, God will expose it. If you confess your sin: God will cover it.

Our sin may not be David’s sin, but we have all been in his shoes in one way or another. Thus, we are all in need of forgiveness and grace. The point is that sin has a way of bringing us to our lowest point, but God’s love can restore us. However, just like David, there may be consequences for our sins, but we can trust that God is always for us and can take us from zero to hero if we confess and turn away from sin.

Friend, Jesus paid the ransom for you sins, so please accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and choose to have your sins covered today!

Living in His Grace and Peace,

Derek Grier

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