Ramen Salad Our Actions Produce Consequences

OUR ACTIONS PRODUCE CONSEQUENCES

By Tamara Haygood

2 Samuel 11, tells of the man the Bible calls, “ the man after God’s own heart” being tempted and committing a sin that snowballs into another sin, and brings about much pain and heartache not only for him, but to all people involved and eventually his entire family.

James 1:13-15, tells us how this works. “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Being tempted is not sin, but giving into the temptation is sin, and ultimately it can lead to spiritual death.

David was the King, but for some reason while his army was at war, he was not. He noticed a beautiful woman bathing on her rooftop – obviously this is where the temptation began. He found that she was a married woman and her husband, Uriah, was one of the loyal soldiers who was fighting in the war that David was not currently leading.

James states that people can be dragged away by their own evil desire and become enticed. David being the King sent for her. I guess he felt entitled to do what he wanted since after all he was the King. The desire to commit adultery with this beautiful woman was conceived, he no doubt began to desire this to happen before the act ever took place.

He gave into the desire. He had sex with this married woman. They gave birth to sin. Sin always has consequences. Galatians 6:7,8 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

So he gave into the desire to have the woman that didn’t belong to him. And after taking her, she conceived a child.

What he may have thought was going to be a one night stand to fulfill his desires became a big situation.

He wanted to create a lie, so he brought home her husband from war and tried to get him to sleep with his wife, with the idea that Uriah would believe the baby she was pregnant with would be his child. So now, he was adding deceit to his sins.

This plan backfires, Uriah being the faithful soldier he was, refused the pleasure of being with his wife when brought out of the war, but stayed guard for his king.

Since Uriah would not play into his plan of deceit, David decided to have Uriah’s life taken from him. This would allow David to marry Bathsheba, and no one would know what had transpired.

But once again, our sins find us out and God decided to expose his sins to him.

God sent His prophet, Nathan in 2 Samuel 12, to expose the sin and confront David.

The next things that transpired are something that has impacted my life in a very powerful way.

David chose to repent of his sins, he did not try to excuse his way out of it, or blame it on Bathsheba. He wanted his relationship with God restored, he did not like being separated from God. The Word said he had a contrite heart. Meaning crushed like powder. He was broken before God.

Psalms 51 is said to have been written after Nathan the prophet had come to inform David of God’s judgement against him. David chose to ask for forgiveness and to be cleansed. Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; It haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.[a] For I was born a sinner— Yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb,[b] teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— Now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

This story draws a beautiful picture of the grace of a loving and forgiving God. David came with sincere repentance for his sins. These were not little sins but very horrible things. Yet, God saw David’s heart and knew that David truly was repentant and God forgave and restored David to right standing with Him.

Bear in mind, that even though forgiveness came, the consequences of this sin could be seen in his children. So our sins cause scars, and they always have consequences. So when temptations arise, we need to stop before allowing the temptation to move us into sin and remember this is not a one time action, but a lifetime decision.

*** Join in on a weekly Bible Study for Women taught by Tamara. She goes LIVE on Facebook at 6:30 pm EST. Restoration for Activation FB group

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