    Today’s reading shows us the beginnings of the consequences David had to face as a result of his sin with Bathsheba. He lost his infant son to illness, a direct consequence. Then, he lost his son Ammon to the vengeful sword of Absalom after Ammon raped their sister, thereby fulfilling God’s promise through the prophet Nathan that the sword would never depart David’s household as a result of his sin.
    Certainly, most of us do not suffer the kinds of consequences that David suffered, but our sin brings consequences as well. Certainly, just as Nathan reminded David, our sin is forgiven and remembered by our God no more, but the consequences of that sin are a reminder that we are to avoid sin. That is what seeking the Kingdom means.
    When we were saved by the Word through faith, we were saved by dying to sin through Christ’s death. Because we are dead to sin, we therefore should seek to destroy the sinful will within us. The consequences of previous sin are a reminder of just what sin does to us when we fail to avoid it. We are still, and always, forgiven, but forgiveness is not a license to do as we please. Indeed, forgiveness is a charge to live a new life in Christ, apart from our sinful nature. This is the lesson that David’s sin teaches us, that we may not find the same consequences levied against us as well.
DLH
