PSALM 51:2 NIV
If you never saw God punish disobedience, how could you believe He rewards obedience? Look at David; he committed adultery and covered it up. And for a while he prospered. But consequences postponed are not consequences escaped. There are always consequences! The truth is David was lost. And when you’re lost you act like a loser. David lost his way, lost his sense of closeness with God, lost his peace of mind, and lost the respect of others. Paul writes: ‘Some men…lead sinful lives and everyone knows it. In such situations you can do something about it. But in other cases only the judgment day will reveal the terrible truth’ (1 Timothy 5:24 TLB). There’s your choice – before or after? Now or then? If you’re wise you’ll deal with it now while you still can. David’s sin brought discredit to his name, pregnancy to Bathsheba and death to her husband, an honorable captain in Israel’s army. But first and foremost David’s sin was against God. And that’s a truth we tend to forget: ‘Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight’ (Psalm 51:4 NKJV). Here’s a sobering thought: the fact that David’s penitential prayer is public record, suggests that sometimes the repentance required is at the level of the transgression. Listen to his prayer: ‘Blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation’ (Psalm 51:9-12 NIV). Is God convicting you of sin? Deal with it now!