- Pray, lifting your requests before God and praising Him for His goodness. Be sure to ask Him to speak to your heart during your devotional time.
- Read today’s passage of Scripture in your Bible and be ready to journal.
- Record your thoughts. What stands out to you?
- How does today’s reading apply to your life? How does it reveal your insufficiencies? What change does God’s word call you to today?
- Remember to have each member of your family share what God showed them during your family worship time today.
- If you have any questions, please use the contact form on this site.
Below, you will find notes to aid you in your thoughts and prayers today.
Chapter 12
v. 1-6
If we follow Christ on this earth, we will be a people of loving confrontation. David did what was evil in God’s sight. His wretched nature was such that he was blinded by his own unrighteousness, even acting without hesitation or immediate remorse. David reveals, here, some sociopathic tendencies. David’s pride was just like that of Saul. God sent Nathan to confront David. Notice the atmosphere of the confrontation. Nathan was not accusatory or adversarial. Biblical confrontation looks more like a parent teaching a child a life lesson. It is instructive. It asks questions. It builds up rather than tearing down.
David was quick to recognize the feasible sin of another man.
v. 7-12
Biblical confrontation is always instructive and it always addresses sin. It does not address matters of preference. It does not address matters of mere disagreement. Specific sin is addressed. If we are confronting someone on any other bases, then we are in sin. I’ve had people confront me because they didn’t like what Jesus said and because they didn’t like me using translations other than the King James. This is sinful confrontation. Before confronting anyone, we ought to ask, “Is there actually sin that needs to be addressed?” “Why am I justified in confronting this person?” “How do I best address this particular sin specifically?”
v. 13-15
David repented. God took away his sin. Yes, God did this even before Jesus’ atoning sacrifice within discrete time (search “Christ’s Eternal Nature” at christoa.com).
Still, there was some punishment in this world as a result of God’s discipline and work of sanctification. David clearly did something that disqualified him from being king. Yet, God had mercy. David’s repentance was key and God was working that out. If our leaders (including pastors and deacons) sin, but are truly repentant, there is no reason they should not continue to serve in the grace and mercy of God. For, God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.
v. 15-23
David’s son died, and He worshipped God. He recognized that God was just and believed that he would one day see his son again. God was his salvation. Do we recognize that the salvation of infants is only possible if God does 100% of salvation’s work and we can’t contribute? David recognized that.
v. 26-31
God was still with David. He did not depend on David.
Milk: Daily, Biblical Devotionals 