In the Spring…
The calendar stated Spring’s arrival as March 20. However in the Northeast Spring is elusive. The standing joke is “today is day 60 or 90 or 120 of January.” At first I thought with Easter being so early, my expectations for Spring were out of sync but tomorrow is May 1 and colors, warmth and sounds of Spring are not quite where I remember them being in previous years. Last year my grandson swam in his new pool on his birthday (April 29), yesterday we were inside wearing long sleeve shirts.
The Bible tells us of an Old Testament expectation of Spring.
“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” II Samuel 11:1
The story of David and Bathsheba was the subject of the yesterday’s sermon. This is such a cautionary tale. Pastor Matt Parks of LCBC stated “we don’t control the temptation, but we do control the invitation to stay.” David, the shepherd, giant slayer, chosen king, a man after God’s own heart was not where he was supposed to be. I don’t think King David knew when he went for a walk on the roof that he would see Bathsheba bathing. What could have been an oops became coveting, adultery and ended in murder. He chose to “stay.” Actually he never should have been home. He should have been at the front line with his men. The story goes from one bad decision to the next until God uses Nathan to bring David back to his senses. Read II Samuel 12 for the details. The experience caused David to write Psalm 51.
Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17
Love this: “we don’t control the temptation, but we do control the invitation to stay.” So true! Thanks for sharing, Ann.
I thought that was too good not to share.
I hope that your weather will get better soon.
For me it is comforting to know that God used David for His glory, even though David messed up. There is still hope for me.