"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Day 80 - (Today’s Bible readings 2 Samuel 11:14-27; Psalm 76; 1Timothy 6:3-10)
MURDER AND “COVER-UP”
And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. (2 Samuel 11:27)
David had lusted after Bathsheba. He acted on his lust. She became pregnant. So David tried to get her husband, a faithful soldier name Uriah, to cover up his sin. But Uriah was too faithful to his men and to his God to enjoy the comforts of home while they were at war. David thinks he has only one recourse. So he gives the order - “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.” (Verse 15) His order is obeyed. Now with Uriah out of the way, David takes Bathsheba to be another one of his wives. (Note: Some sources believe the king could have had up to 18 wives, or even more.)
It looked like the king had gotten away with lust, adultery and murder. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
Substitute your name for David’s, and you will have an accurate picture of your position before our holy and just God. You may try to cover up your sin too. You may even try to deny its reality in your own head. But the fact remains - YOU ARE A SINNER!
1 John 8 verses 8 and 10 are meant to lead you to admit this fact and confess the truth.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us...10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Now look at the good news tucked in between those two verses of Law.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Delay not, delay not, O sinner, draw near.
The waters of life are now flowing for you.
No price is demanded, the Savior is here,
Redemption is purchased, God’s promise is true.
(“Delay Not, Delay Not O Sinner, Draw Near,” Lutheran Worship #349)
Merciful heavenly Father, I won’t delay. I confess right now that I am a sinner. The sin(s) that bother me the most is/are ______________. Please grant forgiveness for all of my many sins, even the ones I don’t remember. I ask this of You for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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