Power and Abuse
It’s an old, old story, but pertinent to our times as sexual abuse of women by men in power comes to light for all to see.
David has been called “a man after God’s own heart”. He was chosen by God early on in his life, because God saw his heart.
He killed a giant. He fought and won battles. He was amazing! God was with Him. He knew and trusted God. He still slid into this corruption later in life.
God dealt with David through Nathan and the consequences, despite his repentance and sorrow, were far reaching and heavy to bear. This is the reality and fruit of sin in a life.
Do you identify in any way, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant in the light of David’s event? I know I did. I saw a glimpse of myself in that story. There are so many ways to ruin the lives of others by our selfish mindset……
We all need to be held accountable for our actions. We live in a broken world. Only a God can deliver and heal, if we choose Him……we can find forgiveness, we can live and learn, despite the severity of the consequences that inevitably follow.
Choose LIFE!
odb.org/2019/08/16/a-sad-story/
Reading link from Our Daily Bread, August 16, 2019, is printed below:
A Sad Story
Winn Collier
“The thing David had done displeased the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:27
2 Samuel 11:2–15
Psalms 94–96; Romans 15:14–33
Painfully, the evil that has long been swept under the rug—sexual abuse of many women by men who had power over them—has come to light. Enduring headline after headline, my heart sank when I heard proof of abuse by two men I admired. The church has not been immune to these issues.
King David faced his own reckoning. Samuel tells us that one afternoon, David “saw a woman bathing” (2 Samuel 11:2). And David wanted her.
Though Bathsheba was the wife of one his loyal soldiers (Uriah), David took her anyway. When Bathsheba told David she was pregnant, he panicked. And in a despicable act of treachery, David arranged for Joab to have Uriah die on the battlefield.
There is no hiding David’s abuse of power against Bathsheba and Uriah. Here it is in full color, Samuel ensuring we see it. We must deal with our evil.
Also, we must hear these stories because they caution us against the abuse of power in our times. This was David, “a man after [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:22), but also a man who needed to be held accountable for his actions. May we also prayerfully hold leaders accountable for how they use or abuse power.
By God’s grace, redemption is possible. If we read further, we encounter David’s profound repentance (2 Samuel 12:13). Thankfully, hard hearts can still turn from death to life.
Why is it important to prayerfully address the abuse of power in our midst and in our world? How did Jesus reveal the right way to live out true power?
God, I don’t know what to do with all the brokenness I see in my world, the brokenness in me. Will You shine Your light and heal us?
Love and peace in our broken world…..and the grace to seek forgiveness and healing ❤
AJ ❤
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