Even Though

Then 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." He 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?' But 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."
(2 Samuel 12:21-23 – ESV)

The child produced by the adultery of David and Bathsheba died, as the scriptures tell us. Within the circumstances surrounding this death we see something of David and his understanding of God, things that are instructive to us.

Even though it was David who had done something wrong, he sought mercy for the child. Even though God had already declared that the child would die (vs.14), David prayed fervently and fasted. Even though the child died, David saw Providence. This was personal, not chance, not bad luck, not an accident, not an unmerciful act of fate. There was still a purpose. If you do not believe this, let me ask you plainly, what is your alternative?

Whom the Lord loves He chastens (Hebrews 12:6). Instead of passing blame onto others or the devil, or our lack of faith, we need to see the truth. God struck the child. The God that is love, all knowing, all wise, and all powerful, we can trust Him. Even when facing consequences due to bad actions it is still good to pray. In Psalm 51 we see David proclaiming that God is clear in speaking and just in judgment. This was wise and good and we can say nothing else if we believe it was the Lord who did it.

Where are you going to find comfort when God strikes you in your most treasured areas? Fleeting fancies of a fantasy notion of faith, which fly away or come back to haunt us again? The child was punished for the guilt of another but it wasn’t innocent; all are sinners and deserve death. We may not understand the reasons but we can still trust God and His character.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©