A Heart for God:  David.

David's Repentance

Readings:  2Sam 12:1-10 & Ps51
Sermon:  Sun 22nd November 2015
 
Setting the scene:
 
Following the death of Uriah, orchestrated by David after his adultery, David marries
Bathsheba and she bears him a son. “But the thing David had done displeased the
Lord” (2 Samuel 11:26b).  It’s no surprise really…sleeping with another man’s wife then having him murdered is unlikely to illicit divine praise…
 
Some of the consequences of this unfortunate train of events seem extremely harsh and difficult to make sense of – the death of an infant because of the actions of his father doesn’t sit easily with us and the way in which the causal chain of events is linked seems to be at odds with how we’d see God at work in our present day.  It raises some big questions about causality and the judgment of God which can’t be ducked.  Does God really ‘cause’ a child to become ill and die in order to punish his father and mother for their sin?  For me (SB) I can't agree or accept that he does.  When we read such passages we need to once again be aware of the thought world in which the words were written, the ways in which God was understood to behave in the that time and place, and perhaps accept that if we were to report and talk about the same event today we’d do so rather differently.
 
We continue with what happens next…..
 
Ice-breaker:
Can you think of a public figure who has had to admit that they were wrong and
seek repentance? Who were they and what do you remember?
 
Study:
 
Read 2 Samuel 12:1-10 & Psalm 51
 
A) Understanding David:
 
1) What character traits did the prophet Nathan exhibit?
 
2) Reading Psalm 51, what are the elements of David’s prayer that suggest that his repentance was sincere?
 
3) How does David pray to be restored?
 
4) What promises does David make for the future?
 
5) Re-read 2 Samuel 12:10. David repents from his sinful actions, but there are still consequences for his sin. What are these consequences?
 
 
B) Learning from David
 
1) What do you think about our role to be “a Nathan” to our brothers and sisters in Christ?
 
2) a) Is self-examination and seeking repentance a regular discipline in
your Christian life?
 
b) Why and how ought this to be a foundational element of our continuing walk with God?
 
 
C) Praying with David
 
Give thanks that God is loving, merciful and through the Cross has forgiven all our sins – past, present and future.
 
Read together Psalm 51: 10-12
 
Consider playing the song “Purify My Heart” and lead into a time of prayer together.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to deepen our hearts for God, reveal to us how we need to continue to be moulded and shaped in Christ and live for Him