Finger pointing can be a nasty game. It's normally thought of in negative terms. Typically, finger pointing involves confrontation; sometimes intense and sometimes playful. The "he did it, she did it" game starts in childhood, but continues throughout adulthood. We're all good at pointing the finger at someone else. The tough part comes when the finger is rightfully pointed at us.
David had that painfully embarrassing experience. The prophet Nathan comes to David with a tale about a rich man who steals a poor man's ewe lamb. David issues a death sentence to this despicable character only to hear the words, "You are that man." Oops! Maybe I was a bit hasty in my sentencing. Let's look at the case a little more closely.
Fortunately for David, his sin with Bathsheba didn't cost him his life. God showed him mercy. Although, according to the law, David was guilty of both murder and adultery, both capital offenses. Yet God gave him a reprieve. David didn't escape punishment, however. God said that sword would not depart from his house, his wives would be publicly violated by someone close to him and the child he conceived in his adultery with Bathsheba would die.
All three of the consequences came to pass in David's life. The new born baby died within a week. His own children preyed upon each other, physically, emotionally and even sexually. His favorite son, usurped his authority, set up tents and publicly humiliated David's wives.
What's really interesting is that God took David's deepest, most atrocious sin and turned it into a blessing. Weird, huh! David should have been condemned to death for his adultery alone. Yet, God blessed the union with Bathsheba with a son, Solomon. Solomon became David's successor as king. The text says that God loved Solomon and sent word through Nathan to name him Jedidiah, which means "loved by the Lord." The most ironic aspect of this whole story is that ultimately, God sent Jesus into the world through Solomon's line.
God is capable of taking our hugest mistake, deepest, darkest sin and use it to bring a blessing to someone else. David's ardent remorse and repentance was the key. David still suffered the consequences of his sinful behavior that caused him continual pain. But God majors in taking train wrecks in our lives to allow us to be reminded of His grace and honoring His followers.
God, thanks for your grace, your forgiveness, your mercy. A lot of times, fingers could have been, should have been pointed at me for my guilt. But, Lord, you've taken my deepest failures and used them to your glory. I cry out like the Apostle Paul to you for deliverance from myself, my sin, my faux pas, my ignorance, my undisciplined life and rejoice in your hand at work to release me from condemnation.
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