A person can’t make progress in living the Christian life unless he or she confesses their sin. Pride causes a person to despise God’s word. Severe consequences like family chaos and even death, will result from unconfessed sin. In addition, it gives occasion for the world to reject God. David shows both the negative and positive example on how to deal with sin.
Conviction
Nathan came to David and told a story about a rich man with many flocks and herds while a poor man had only a little ewe lamb. A traveler came to the rich man who wouldn’t provide a meal from his flock. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb. David said this rich man deserved to die and must make restitution for the lamb fourfold because he had no compassion (2 Sam. 12:1-6). Stories touch peoples’ hearts to convict them of sin.
Confession
Nathan said David was the rich man in the story who God anointed king over Israel, delivered and gave him Saul’s house and wives along with the house of Israel and Judah. Nathan asked why he despised the Lord’s word by doing evil in killing Uriah with the sword and taking his wife. Because of David’s sin, the sword would never depart from his house and God would expose the evil in his household before Israel when his companion had sex with his wives. David confessed his secret sin to the Lord and Nathan said He took it away so he wouldn’t die. The sin resulting in a child being born and dying gave opportunity for the Lord’s enemies to reject God (2 Sam. 12:7-15a). Confess sin to remove it even though there are consequences.
Beloved
David inquired of God and fasted all night for his sick child. On the seventh day, the child died and David worshiped God. He comforted his wife Bathsheba and they gave birth to Solomon who Nathan named, beloved of the Lord (2 Sam. 12:15b-25). God loves you and works out His gracious purpose in spite of sin.
Battle
Joab fought against Rabbah in Ammon and captured the royal city. Instead of receiving glory over the victory, Joab asked David and his army to capture it. He brought out its spoil in great amounts and sawed everyone among the cities of Ammon (2 Sam. 12:26-31). Fight the spiritual battle in confessing sin until God is victorious over the world, flesh and devil.
Consider the following questions:
1. Are you or a person in relationship with you dealing with sin?
2. If you are the one in sin, ask God to show you why. If a friend is in sin, ask God to reveal a story and/or key questions to touch their heart. so he or she is convicted of their sin.
3. Pray for conviction of sin in your heart along with your friend’s heart (Gal. 6:1).
4. Instead of hiding and rationalizing away sin, confess it to others of the same gender and pray for one another so you and they may be healed (1 John 1:9; James 5:16).
