The Hidden
Jesus -David's Dead Baby
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David was in BIG trouble. The prophet Nathan had just publicly revealed two of David's crimes: his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah. According to God's own laws, the penalty for both was death. Exodus 21:12 & Leviticus 20:10 How dreadful must have been that moment for David when Nathan yelled out "You are the man!" 2 Samuel 12:7 At that moment David was like a worm helplessly impaled on a steel hook. This was Jehovah's prophet pronouncing judgment against him, and with the full authority of God backing up Nathan's accusation, the unswerving judgment for David's two sins could be nothing else but death. And sure enough, it was indeed a death sentence that Nathan pronounced against David's sin, but to the utter shock and surprise of everyone who heard it, God was going to let David live, but the newborn baby born from David's adultery would die in his place. |
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AN INNOCENT BABY DIED SO DAVID COULD LIVE. When the true impact of that thought hit me, I suddenly realized that this story of David's judgment is really a parable about Jesus and I. Like David, I also have a death sentence pronounced against me, for God's law clearly states "the wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23 and of my sins, there are many. David lived because of God's great mercy, and to my equal relief, so do I, for "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 But this gift of life that was given David was no cheap trinket, for that innocent child died that he might live. And not only did that baby die, it also suffered for seven days, its helpless little body struck with sickness that slowly and painfully extinguished it's life. And so it was with innocent Jesus, who also endured great suffering to bring me the gift of eternal life. Isaiah 53:1-12 |
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And God continued to pour out mercy upon guilty David. Although King David carried out his dreadful crimes through the misuse of his royal power, our kind and loving God allowed him to remain on his throne. If God had chosen to remove him from the palace and made him a pauper in Israel, men everywhere would still have said that God's mercy was great, but our God's love is so astounding, that it surpasses our ability to grasp or understand it. Ephesians 3:17-19 In the same way, my God has decreed that even though my sins make me worthy of death, I like David will also reign on a kingly throne, ruling the universe with God. 2 Timothy 2:10-12 Imagine: I am going to be a king among angels! 1 Corinthians 6:3 Who can understand such love! The death of that innocent baby was a horrifying thing, and David begged God to spare it's life, but in the end the baby died so David could live. But then another incredible thing happened: God revealed to David that he would see his baby son again, that his little boy would once more live! 2 Samuel 12:19-24 |
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We who are Christians share in David's comfort, for the innocent Jesus who died in our place has also escaped from death's eternal grasp, and lives again! Through the incomprehensible power of resurrection, Jesus burst from his tomb, now forever alive, and just like David and his little boy, we shall see our beloved Jesus, face to face. 2 Corinthians 13:12 Who can understand this love of God, that forgives us our grievous sins, who sends his own innocent son to suffer and die in our place, who lets us be kings in the throne room of Heaven, and then returns Jesus to us from the grave that we might be loved by him forever! How great will be the love that David feels for his resurrected son who died in his place, and how much greater will be our love for our resurrected Jesus, who loves us with a never-ending love! |
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"They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:3,4 May the glorious name of Jesus and his Father be forever praised! |
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