Just got this from my dad... I had to put my boots on to read it. The moral of these stories never add up.
September 20 ...Bethel Morning Worship 9/20 comments
"Abundant peace belongs to those loving your law,
and for them there is no stumbling block".
Psalm 119:165Brother David SplaneSituations in life can cause us to stumble.
Consider the sin of David and Bathsheba.
How did their sin affect those around them?
David had 5 wives. How did it affect them?
Likely, rumors and whispering surrounded them
everywhere they went.
Abigail was one of David's wives. How did she feel?
We know from the Bible account how sensible Abigail was.
How horrible her marriage was with Nabal. She must have
been so full of hope with her marriage to David.
Were her expectations realized? How disappointing
to learn of David's sin with Bathsheba.
If the law was strictly enforced, both David and Bathsheba
would be stoned. The 5 wives would be free to remarry.
But Jehovah intervened. Jehovah judged them.
They were forgiven.
How did the wives come to grips with that fact?They had to understand that God's purpose is
MORE important than anyone's hurt feelings. They would have to learn to see David as Jehovah did.
However hurt they were, David was to remain their husband.
What about Bathsheba? How were those around her affected?
Perhaps she dealt with the accusations of
"Well, Ahithophel was Bathsheba's grandfather...
certainly this was a case of Nepotism"
And consider Bathsheba's son Solomon,
Jehovah chose Solomon to be the heir to the throne
(1Chron. 22:9,10).Another "blow" to the 5 wives and their sons...
Again, the wives would have to view Solomon as Jehovah did.
It would have been SO EASY to develop a critical attitude.
You had to be a spiritual person.
Suppose there was a widow whose only son was
recently stoned for adultery, how would she view
the forgiveness of David and Bathsheba?
As a double-standard?The older men at the gate who were strict followers
of the law, how did they view the ruling of the king
and Bathsheba?
And Nathan how was he viewed? Was he on the
"up and up"?
I mean, didn't David and Bathsheba name one of
their sons, "Nathan"? hmmmm.
*Loyalty to God and his Organization despite
our personal sense of justice being offended*Clamp down on pride..
Obey and submit to theocratic rule.
Sw