May 27- You Reap What You Sow

May 27, 2011

Scripture Readings:
2 Samuel 12:1-31; John 16:1-33;
Psalm 119:65-80; Proverbs 16:4-5

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 
~Galatians 6:7

2 Samuel 12:1-31

One thing I love about nature is that it is predictable.  The laws of nature are something that I can rely on and rest in.  For example, if I want some sunflowers in my garden so that I can harvest sunflower seeds to eat, I know that I can go out, sow some sunflower seeds into the ground, water the seedlings, and eventually, I will have a beautifully tall sunflower in my yard that will drop sunflower seeds out for me to eat.  If I sow that type of seed, I will reap the harvest of what I sow.  I love to eat sunflower seeds, so this is a good thing to know.  Today, we are going to see that the principle of sowing and reaping also applies to our spiritual lives.  David has sown sin into his life and when one sows sin, one reaps death.

Nathan is a brave man.  He is about to go to the most powerful king on earth at the time and confront that king about his sin.  Nathan does this by telling king David the story of a rich man who owns many cattle.  There is also a poor man who only owns one little lamb that he loves dearly.  When the rich man needs to feed a guest, instead of taking one of his own animals to kill for the guest, he takes the little loved lamb of the poor man and kills it instead.  David is furious upon hearing of this injustice.  He declares that the man deserves to die.  He also notes that the man must follow Moses' law and repay the poor man fourfold for stealing his property.  Nathan reveals to David that he is the rich man in the story. Nathan tells David that although the Lord had richly blessed David, David stole Uriah's wife and murdered Uriah. God pronounces judgments on David's sin:

• David's own house will rebel against him. Vs. 11
• Other men will sleep with David's wives publicly. Vs. 11-12
• The child that Bathsheba bares will die. Vs. 14

David confesses his sin before the Lord. Notice his humility. Nathan confirms that the Lord has forgiven David, but that David will reap this judgment because of the sin that he has sown.  David is spared death, but his baby boy is not.

David fasts and prays to God in an attempt to save the baby, but God does not spare the child's life.  David confirms in vs. 23 that he believes in life after death when he states that the child cannot return to David, but that one day David will go to be with the child.  David is still a man of faith.  He may be flawed, but he still believes in God.  After this incident, David comforts Bathsheba by sleeping with her.  God gives them a son named Solomon.  Solomon will become the wisest man who ever lived.  The Bible tells us that the Lord loved this child and wanted him called Jedidiah which means beloved of the Lord. 

God is kind, long suffering, and gracious to David, acknowledging David's repentant heart.  David will be unable to avoid the suffering that his own sin will produce.  As we read, we will see that indeed a person reaps what they sow.

Do you acknowledge your sins before God?  How have you confessed your own seeds of sin?  Do you realize that God is long suffering with you, also?

John 16:1-33

I want to remind you that what Jesus has been teaching and what we have been reading is what he said to the disciples in the upper room during the Passover Feast after Judas Iscariot was sent out with Satan having entered him.  Jesus is preparing the disciples for what will happen after his death.  In addition to washing their feet and modeling service to others, Jesus gives them key teachings that will sustain them in future trials. He tells them that he is telling them these things so that they won't fall away when people try to expel them from synagogues and kill them in God's name.  He is teaching them so that they will remember that he warned them that these things would happen. 

Jesus again attempts to help them understand the role of the Holy Spirit, who Jesus calls the Counselor.  Here is what the Holy Spirit will do once Jesus is gone and the Father sends the Holy Spirit to earth:

• He convinces the world of sin.
• He convinces the world of God's righteousness.
• He convinces the world of coming judgment.
• He will guide believers in all truth.
• He never presents his own ideas.
• He speaks only what he has heard.
• He tells believers about the future.
• He brings glory to Jesus Christ by revealing whatever Jesus reveals to him.
• He reveals what God the Father has given to God the Son.

Jesus then prophesies that in a little while he will be gone and the disciples will not see him.  Then, a little while later, they will see him again.  The disciples are confused about this.  Jesus says that they are going to be sad and then their sadness will turn to gladness when they see him again, kind of like a lady in labor who suffers and then is glad when the baby is born.

Jesus tells them that they need to begin to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus.  This is a new teaching.  Jesus commands that they pray in his name.  He says prayers asked in this way will be heard and will bring joy.  Jesus is finally speaking in plain language to the disciples. They are thrilled that he is no longer speaking in parables.  They tell Christ that this plain speak has caused them to finally "get it" and believe that he is from God.  Jesus warns that they have jumped the gun and they will actually scatter and leave him to die.  Jesus says that he will not truly be alone when they scatter, because God the Father will be with him.

Jesus tells the disciples that he has warned them of all of these things so that they will have peace when these things come to pass.  Also, he says that in this world they will have trials, but take heart because he has overcome the world.

Amen and amen.  Do you have peace because of what Jesus has taught you?  His plain talk is for you.  Claim his peace and his promises.

Psalm 119:65-80

"You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised."  That says it all.

Proverbs 16:4-5

"The Lord has made everything for His own purposes, even the wicked for punishment."  Do you accept this concept?  It is the truth.

What did you see today?  Please share what you are learning.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
© 2011