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True Repentance

February 13th, 2023

2 Samuel 11:1-9

David sinned. He abused his power, used people as objects, and broke God’s law. Yet, this text is often read in ways that place the blame for David’s sin on Bathsheba. Whenever one of our heroes is caught in unfaithfulness or worse, caught in sexual abuse, we can begin the countdown to the moment their supporters compare them to David. Since David sinned, was forgiven, and was still used by God, it is easy for us to let our favorite people off the hook. It is too easy. 

The writer of the book of Kings, summing up David’s life wrote this: “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5). When our heroes or leaders sin, especially the ones we love the most, we must not allow ourselves to let them off the hook or shift the blame to others. That road leads to the temptation to follow their example. True repentance requires taking responsibility.

Author: Steven Malcolm