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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Thursday, May 19,
2022
Accrigs waterfall at the Bordner
cabin in Swatara State Park, Lebanon County, PA.
"Nathan's
Rebuke"
Personal
note: I did not prepare a message yesterday due to
recovering from a bike accident I had on Tuesday (see
below for details)
Message
summary: The word of rebuke
can be painful but when one is receptive it can be of
great benefit and blessing.
Note:
Podcast not prepared for this message.
“The LORD
sent Nathan to David” (2 Samuel 12:1). "You are the
man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). "Brothers, if someone is caught
in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him
gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted"
(Galatians 6:1).
In 2 Samuel 11 the Bible records the account of David's sin with Bathsheba and attempted cover-up. David thought he had gotten away with it. We covered the sin and the cover-up in the previous two messages. But the chapter ends with these sobering words, "But the thing David had done displeased the Lord" (2 Samuel 11:27). We don't know how much time transpired between David's cover-up of his sin with Bathsheba and the beginning of chapter 12. Assuming that the cover-up took place shortly after Bathsheba announced her pregnancy it would have been at least six months, perhaps longer. I wonder what David was dealing with during this time. Did he really think he'd gotten away with it? Had he somehow justified his actions? Was he dealing with secret guilt or sorrowful remorse? "The LORD
sent Nathan to David." The
prophet Nathan comes on the scene. Although he had prior
experience with David in his prophetic role his message of
rebuke, condemnation and conviction was risky. What courage it would require for Nathan to
complete this God-ordained prophetic mission! David, at
the apex of his kingly authority, could easily and quickly
do away with such a pesky prophet.
Nevertheless
Nathan boldly approached David with an outstanding story
analogous to the injustice of David's reprehensible deed.
(2 Samuel 12:1-4) In an illustrative
way he was setting a trap for David to walk right into,
and David did not disappoint. Nathan tightened the noose
with these words of stunning, forthright rebuke, "You
are the man!" before launching into a prophetic
declaration of judgment concerning David's sin.
Nathan had a word of rebuke for David. The word of rebuke can be painful but when one is receptive it can be of great benefit and blessing. Rebuke sounds so harsh and unloving. It's much easier to use words like edify, encourage, inspire...words that lift others up and leave them "feeling good". But sharing and receiving the word of rebuke can be a blessing and is a necessary tool within our spiritual tool chest. We have all needed a loving rebuke at times. And like Nathan, God may at times call on us to do the rebuking. "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted" (Galatians 6:1). We believe one of the greatest marks of the contemporary church is a failure to use the word of rebuke which now is often interpreted as judging. With such a major emphasis on practicing tolerance, exhibiting a non-judgmental and loving attitude toward everything that comes down the pike, it's very hard to practice the God-ordained ministry of rebuke. It's out of sync with the emphasis and popular teaching of our day. What's more, confront somebody in their sin and you're liable to be labeled hateful and legalistic! You probably know someone named Nathan. But like Stephen in the book of Acts, it's not a common Bible name. Apart from several unspecified genealogical references this is the only prominent Nathan in the Bible. Nathan's
brave rebuke turned out to be a redemptive blessing.
However uncomfortable, it brought David to his proper
senses as he forthrightly confessed, "I have sinned
against the Lord." In receiving Nathan's rebuke and
making his honest confession David took the first steps
toward his journey to reconciliation with God, though he,
his family, and the nation would deal with the spiraling
consequences from his ruthless actions the remainder of
his life, and the generations who followed.
How do you handle a needed rebuke? Do you get angry and harden your heart or like David do you see the blessing of rebuke? I have been blessed by rebuke, though at the time it was very humbling and uncomfortable. My posture can be one of defense, justification, and excuses or I can choose to be receptive when the rebuke accurately reflects my offense. Many years ago I was dealing with an issue in my life when a friend pinned me down (not literally) and spoke truth to my heart, essentially a rebuke. He was right and I am a better man today due to the blessing of his loving rebuke. What do you do when God speaks to you about lovingly rebuking a brother or sister to help them get back on the right track? The tendency for many, including me, is to put off this call, agree to pray but not act. It's very hard to rebuke another believer and should come about only after a season of prayer. But we must be careful to obey if God is speaking. It's part of our calling, especially if we are a minister of the Gospel. (See 2 Timothy 4:2.) As many know
David humbly repented of his sin and received forgiveness
but not without lifelong consequences. which we will
consider in the next two messages.
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily
prayer: Father, it comes very
naturally to encourage and instruct
others in Your teachings. But it is far
more difficult to bring loving rebuke
and correction to one who has chosen to
live in disobedience to Your commands.
Help me to go forth as one pure in
heart, humble in spirit, and earnest in
prayer when I am commissioned to be Your
messenger of life-giving rebuke. It
wasn't Nathan who went after David, but
it was You who sent Nathan, which served
as the beginning of David's spiritual
restoration. When the messenger is pure
in motive and obedient to the Spirit's
prompting, and the message is received
in the right spirit, then correction
will take place, just as it did with
David. Though I cannot be assured of the
desired results help me to find blessing
in having been obedient to Your Spirit's
leading. When I am the recipient of a
rebuke may I respond in humility and
receive the correction as though it were
delivered personally from You and
respond accordingly. In the name of
Jesus I pray. Amen.
Personal
note: Tuesday morning I went up to
Swatara State Park to ride the trails. I
began with a rail trail up along the
Swatara Creek and then returned on the
Bear Hole Trail, a logging type road on
the other side of the creek which has some
mountain biking characteristics. I wanted
to see Bordner's Cabin and the Accrig's
Waterfall and maybe see a bear!
Next thing
I knew I was on the ground with really bad
abrasions on my knees and arms and
something with my left shoulder causing
great pain in lifting my left arm.
I managed
to get up and actually stopped at the
cabin before the long ride back to the
van. I stopped on the way home at White
Oak Display in Palmyra for some first aid.
I am very, very sore but thankful it
wasn't worse. Today I may consider going
to urgent care for my shoulder but I tend
to put off doctoring as long as I can!
Lessons
learned:
I am
grateful for neighbors and friends all
over who have called, texted and emailed
offering assistance. Of course Ester had
to put it up on Facebook!
For the
geographically curious I was in this area
(google map)
This house
will need some repairs but may be
available at a reasonable price.
This is at
the upper end of the rail trail on Swopes
Valley Road. It's estimate on Zillow is
$1,300!
Correction:
Tom, a very observant reader pointed out
this photo from Tuesday's
message was actually Conoy Creek emptying
into the Susquehanna River (not Conewago
Creek)
Meanwhile:
This is the view Brooksyne and Ester are
enjoying in San Diego!
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Stephen & Brooksyne Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |