Pointers on the Lesson H omer A. K ent , T h .D.
Helps for the Children A llison A rrowood
Lesson material is based upon out lines of the International Sunday School Lessons copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
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Sept. 7, 1952 DAVID'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH 2 Sam. 12:l-7a, 13-15a; 18:32,33; 24:24
not take many words to express David’s conviction: “ I have sinned against the Lord.” True confession is brief. It does not hedge. It comes out with the truth without hesitation or reservation. There follows immediately the announcement of God’s forgiveness: “ The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” See how willing God is to pardon. As soon as there is confession, God puts away the sin. Note the word also as it appears in the above statement. Man puts away his own sin in the sense of confessing it. Then God puts it away upon the basis of His atonement. The grace of God appears here in that not only is it stated that God had put away David’s sin, but also in that the sentence which he had imposed upon himself (v. 5) would not be executed, though he deserved to die as an adul terer and murderer (Lev. 20:10; 24:17). But note the somber statement which follows (v. 14). Because of the flagrant nature of his sin and because of its in fluence in besmirching the cause of God, David would have to suffer some terrible chastisements, beginning with the death of his child (v. 15f). God may remove the guilt of man’s sin, but per mit untold suffering to come into the life in consequence of sin committed. Galatians 6:7 is still in the Bible. David learned the truth of this principle in the long, hard days ahead. David’s Touching Grief 2 Sam. 18:32, 33 Here we find David’s cup of grief filled to the full. Everything in the story leads up to this wail over his dead boy. Five times, in v. 33, he repeats the words “my son.” The father recognized how much he was responsible for his son’s failure. Here surely David reached the most profound moment of his suf fering.
Pointers on the Lesson In spite of David’s gross sin which is set forth in the chapter preceding the first selected passage for today’s lesson, the lesson this week shows that David was a man after God’s own heart. There are manifestations of growth in grace. He gives evidence of having some of the fruit of the Spirit in his life. Many practical lessons appear in David’s ex periences for believers in the present day. A Parable With A Purpose 2 Sam. 12:l-7a God does not leave His children alone when they sin. He goes after them in one way or another in order to restore them to fellowship and service. In this instance, He sent a prophet after David (v. 1). Furthermore, He led this prophet to utter in David’s hearing one of the most touching parables in all literature (w . 1-4). It was a parable of singular beauty. It was true to the life of the land so that the hearer could readily understand it. It was thus a parable that would easily make an appeal to the heart of anyone who had the least bit of fairness or sympathy in his being. The teacher should seek to tell the par able in as vivid a manner as possible. Nathan must have given a graphic portrayal of the parable for it quickly had an effect (vv. 5, 6). David’s anger indicated that he had a true sense of fair dealing. In response to his feeling, he indicated that the penalty of the law should be invoked upon the guilty par ty. See Ex. 22:1. Then it was that Na than said dramatically, “ Thou art the man” (v. 7a). The Parable Produces Results 2 Sam. 12:13-15a The telling of the parable produced a clear-cut confession from David. It did
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