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Failure and Restoration

Confronting Our Sin

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.  And the Lord sent Nathan to David.

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-15.

1) Nathan tells David a story designed to provoke him to anger against sin.  As king, David had the responsibility of justice and must bring judgment against the sinner who has committed the crime described by Nathan.  In your own words, retell the story Nathan presented to David.

 

 

2) Use phrases from 2 Samuel 12 that demonstrate:

a) David's response to the crime against the poor man

 

b) David's judgment of the offending rich man

 

3) At what point in the story does David realize that he is the guilty party?

 

4) What does God indicate is the root of David's sin in verse 9?

 

5) What does your life reveal about your attitude toward God's word?

 

6) In what area of your life are you the rich man of Nathan's story?

7) How does God punish David?

 

8) Hebrews 12:7-11 does not use the language of punishment, but of discipline, in describing God's dealings with his children.  What is the goal of discipline according to this passage?

 

9a) How has God been treating you as his child?

 

b) Is it painful?

 

c) What has he been teaching you through this? 

 

d) Give thanks for what God is doing in your life.

10) God's word to David brought about its intended effect.  What phrase from 2 Samuel 12 shows David's repentance? 

 

11) How does God respond to David's confession of sin?

 

Notice that even though David's sin was put away, David still must bear the its consequences.

The Lord shows us our sin through the Scriptures, through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and through the confrontation of others.  When he does this for us, we must be willing, like David to acknowledge and confess our sin.

12) In 1 John 1:9, what does God promise to do for us if we confess our sin?

 

We can be assured that just as God put away David's sin, he will put away ours.  He has already made atonement for us on the cross knowing exactly what our sins are.  Whatever burdens our consciences and weighs down our hearts, let us confess it to him for we can safely entrust ourselves to our heavenly Father's care.