Letting Go & Moving On
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12: 22, 23 (NIV)
19David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
20Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
21His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
22He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Message: "Letting go and Moving on”
The story of David and the child
David was fighting a war - his armies was out to fight and he remained in the palace
One day He saw the beautiful Bathsheba bating, lust overtook him and he committed adultery with her - she fell pregnant
David had Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband over for dinner - he sent an order to Joab (commander of the armies) to put Uriah in harm’s way - to make sure that Bathsheba will become a widow
Ruthlessly - he even sent the message with Uriah!
So Uriah was killed in action and David was on hand to comfort Bathsheba
Their son was born
God sent the prophet Nathan to David with the story of the rich man taking a lamb of the poor man to prepare for his guests
David was angry at this story - “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”
Nathan told him - that man is you!
As a consequence for this adultery, and in line with David’s reaction, the baby born from this adultery fell ill and eventually died
David fasted and pleaded with God - he was in an utter state of dismay - stages of loss - denial, anger, negotiating, depression, acceptance
And then one day he heard the servants whisper - and he new, the child has died!
This is were our reading comes in: with this news, David got up, got dressed, ate a meal and went to the temple to worship
The servants asked him about grief for the loss of the child, to which he said: “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
It is as if a switch was thrown in David’s heart - he was letting go and moving on
Working through the grief long before everyone else - David was known for working through things - Ps 51, Ps 13
He got up - moved on - stayed married to Bathsheba - they had another child - Solomon - he returned to be the great king he was - being true to his calling
What can we take from this story?
- Even though we don’t always understand God’s righteousness, there is consequences to our actions - we are not always entitled to get what we want
- God helps us to understand our mistakes - sending messengers like Nathan
- David worked through his sorrow - wrestling, pleading, fasting, mourning - he took it head on, not shying away from it (working through stuff is not alway pretty)
- Working through his sorrow, David reached a point where he could let go - we need to let go of stuff don’t we? If we don’t, we’ll get stuck
- Working through stuff enabled David to get up and continue living - even with the blessing of God - his terrible adultery was not the end of him
Letting go and Moving on
We just came through Easter - death and sorrow, but also surprise and joy
Time where disciples were confronted with so many different emotions - they had to work through it
John 20 - Jesus met his disciples in an upper room where they were hiding away - he blew over them to receive the Holy Spirit
We all have things to work through - through our connection with God, we are able to work through stuff - even though it is not alway pretty
Through faith, we are able to let go of emotions that has the potential to hurt us
Through the love and grace of God, are able to move on
May God help us to let go and to move on!
Comments
Add your comment