On displeasing the Lord

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Samuel 11:27b,

"The thing David had done displeased the Lord."

This observation of the writer of 2 Samuel follows the well known
account of David's adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband:
David had displeased the Lord.

However, Paul quotes God's observation of David, "I have found David
son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want
him to do." Acts 13:22. We also read of David being one of the great
heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32. Much of Old Testament history
documents the activities of David, his origins, his ascension to the
throne, his love for the Lord.

David was clearly a man of great faith. In addition to being hand
selected by the Lord to be Israel's second king (when Saul didn't work
out), he was instrumental in God's hands to finally establish Israel
as a great nation in preparing the world for her coming Savior a
millenia later. David wrote the bulk of the book of psalms which
documents the inner struggles of man, the adoration, love and worship
of God, the complete and entire reliance upon the Lord in facing
challenges in life while looking to God as our great refuge and
strength.

How do we reconcile our understanding of David as a great man of
faith, and, yet, a man who commits adultery and murder? We need to
recognize our understanding of faith and of our current condition as
the people of God as David was.

Faith does not make us perfect. Our embracing the Lord in faith and
trust brings us his forgiveness of our sins, as well as his welcome of
us into his family. But... it does not make us perfect. That comes
later, following our leaving this life. It will only be in the
resurrection that we will be in our eternal bodies sans that ugly
sinful nature we all currently struggle with. As Paul points out in
Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." As believers we have
inner conflict and we might just find ourselves in David's shoes. Not
that we might find ourselves guilty of adultery and murder, as David
was, but in one way or another, at one time or another, displeasing
the Lord.

As believers we may find ourselves displeasing the Lord, disappointing
ourselves, and possibly others around us. What to do in that
circumstance?

The apostle John addresses this point, "My dear children, I write this
to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the
sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2. We need to recognize we have
an advocate on our behalf before God the Father: Jesus Christ, who
already provided an atonement for any sin we may ever commit. He
speaks to the Father on our behalf. Believers can never lose God's
love and acceptance.

It is the enemy who attempts to convince us we are estranged from God
for something we may have done. He is always attempting to get us
side-tracked.

Our job is to get up, dust ourselves off, embrace God's forgiveness of
us as we confess our sin, and press ahead in our walk with the Lord!
As Paul points out, "He [God] will also keep you firm to the end, so
that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is
faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.

Just how great is that?!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com