Safe in the Arms of God by John F. MacArthur

Author:John F. MacArthur
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2010-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE

Will I See My Child Again?

MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY WITH THE Bible know the story of David and Bathsheba. After committing adultery with Bathsheba, David discovered that she was pregnant with his child. He then sent Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to the front lines of the hottest battle, a place where David knew with certainty Uriah would be killed. Before God, David was not only an adulterer, but also a murderer. The Lord sent His prophet Nathan to say as much to David (2 Sam. 11-12).

When confronted, David admitted what he had done. He said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam. 12:13). Nathan responded to David that the Lord had accepted his penitence and forgiven him—and therefore he would not die. He then stated that because what David had done had given great occasion for the Israelites’ enemies to blaspheme against God, the child that Bathsheba had conceived would surely die (2 Sam. 12:14).

In essence, David was forgiven his sin, but the consequences of his sin were not going to be completely obliterated.

When Bathsheba’s child was born, the infant was extremely sick. David pleaded with God for the life of the baby. He fasted and prayed, and we read that he “lay all night on the ground” as he begged God to save their baby boy. The servants of his household tried to get David to rise up and eat, but he wouldn’t do either. He continued to fast and pray without ceasing, remaining in a prostrate position before the Lord. I’m sure David felt that the child’s survival would represent God’s mercy on him after his horrible iniquities. At least there would be one thing to alleviate the guilt—a new little son.

The baby died on the seventh day.

Having seen David suffer so profoundly and deeply over the illness of this child, the servants were afraid to tell David that the child had died. They were afraid David might kill himself upon hearing the news! They could see that David had attached all his personal sense of guilt, shame, and general well-being to the survival of this illegitimate son.

When David heard his servants whispering, he perceived the child was dead. He asked, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

Startlingly, it was at that point David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed clothes, and then went to the house of the Lord to worship. Afterward, he returned to his house. He requested that food be set before him and he ate. All the intense intercession, fasting, sorrow, and suffering was over—that fast.

David’s servants were astonished. They had seen how distraught David was at the illness and impending death of his son. They were so concerned about him that they guarded him carefully lest he try to do himself harm in a state of intense grief. Yet instead of seeing greater mourning from David, they saw their master clean up, worship God, and ask for something to eat. They couldn’t help

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