By Not Known
Having been told that his wife will take legal action against his stubborn stance, an unrepentant husband who had strayed said, “Up to you lah… Take legal action lah. Sell it (the flat). Do whatever you like.” This is an example of a person who has allowed his sin to go spiraling down further. Instead of acknowledging his philandering lifestyle, his pride and stubbornness got the better of him. He was willing to jeopardise his marital relationship, lose his son, and most of all, go against the God before whom he had made the vow to his spouse: “till death do us part.”
David was in a similar situation. In 2 Samuel 11:2-5, we read about what happened between him and Bathsheba. Instead of seeking forgiveness and repent right then, and face the consequences of that liaison; he went deeper into sin. He sent Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband in to the battlefield and got him killed so that he might have her all to himself.
It was specifically stated in 2 Samuel 11:27, “The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” Nathan, God’s prophet, came and confronted him with a story and challenged him saying, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord?”
The violation of God’s holiness is essentially an intentional despicable act of total disregard for the word of God. David had been told, he had heard from God himself, and he knew exactly what the word of the Lord meant. In the heat of the moment, he threw away all that he understood, and chose to violate God’s personal instruction. He was unfaithful, he schemed, he murdered and he stole. In his actions, he scorned God, the righteous Judge.
The saving grace was when David realised his folly, acknowledged his sin, and sought after God. He accepted the consequences and trusted God’s forgiveness and renewal process. He found mercy of the righteous Judge and discovered the grace of a forgiving Father.
How many more today are like the husband mentioned earlier. It might not have been unfaithfulness in marital relationship but a myriad of other actions of disobedience to God’s word. How we respond to God’s word will determine how we may experience God’s mercy and grace through His Son Jesus Christ. This is what we need to do daily when we worship God.
Peter Poon