Don’t Stop Believin…

I have been reading through 1^st & 2^nd Samuel and I came across a passage that really blew me away.

This story is the aftermath of David’s affair with Bathsheba:

• ¹⁵ After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. ¹⁶David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. ¹⁷The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. ¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” ¹⁹ David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. ”Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” ²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. ~ 2 Samuel 12.15-20

Several things that jump out:

• David was desperate after God
  • Although this tragedy was a consequence of his sin, David immediately persued God.  If we are not careful, we allow our sin to drive a wedge between us and God. David knew that God was big enough to handle his junk.
• David got up
  • Once he has his answer, even one he didn’t want, David moved on.  He knew that to continue to pray was pointless, God had given him his answer and it was time to move.  We must be ready to move when God movies, even if we aren’t sure about the direction.
• David Worshiped
  • This part blows me away.  As a true man of faith, David knew that God still loved him.  Despite the tragedy of losing a child, David continued to worship God.  This is the reason God deemed David as a “man after his own heart” because despite the circumstances, David continued to worship the Father.  This is an important lesson for us. In the mist of our greatest heartaches and tragedies, God desires our worship.

Worship equals faith. If you are having trouble worshiping God, then you are having trouble trusting God.

• ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Heb 12.2-3