The God of Mercy

“Nathan then said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your companion, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.”’ Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.’ So Nathan went to his house. Then the Lord struck the child that Uriah's widow bore to David, so that he was very sick.” 2 Samuel 12:7-15

Who was God in David’s life? He was the righteous, yet, merciful One. Though David was called a man after God’s own heart, he was by no means perfect. David’s sins were, from our perspective, more despicable than Saul’s. Yet Saul’s household was removed from the throne and it was through David’s lineage our Messiah came.

What made the difference? When Saul was faced with his sin of offering the priestly sacrifice himself, he made insincere confession before God. “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel.” Saul was more concerned about his reputation than his disobedience. God knew his heart.

David, on the other hand, committed adultery with a woman, then murdered her husband. Though David loved God, and was a man of prayer, there is no record of his ever praying about God’s choice of a woman for his wife. Against the will of God, he took numerous wives until one day he, the sweet psalmist of Israel, took another man’s wife.

When David was confronted with his sin, the response was one of deep grief and repentance. He was broken before God. All David said was, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Though David bore the consequences of his actions, his relationship with God was restored. He again knew joy.

Worship the Righteous One today. Recount the great mercies He has shown you.