Sins of the Father

 “The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.” 2 Samuel 15:23

What a low point in the life of David. The prophet Samuel declared to Saul, the soon to be deposed King of Israel, which in David God had found, “a man after his own heart.” (1Sa 13:14) What were the events in the life of this shepherd boy who became King that led to God’s favor being removed?

The young shepherd boy who faced giants with faith and courage now fled barefooted from his own son. David, the now betrayed deposed King of Israel, was fleeing from his own son who sought to end his life. He was reaping the rewards of his disobedience to God.

Memories of his failures must have flooded the thoughts of David as he crossed over Kidron; as he fled for His life. The day he stood on the roof of his palace and saw the bathing of Bathsheba, the rape of His daughter Tamar by his son Amnon, Absalom’s successful conspiracy to murder the rapist and his brother Amnon and the ensuing difficult decision to exile his son Absalom from Israel.

David’s thoughts of Absalom sitting in the gate of the city turning the hearts of the people against his leadership and the rushed exile from the kingdom would soon be replaced with the words:

 “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Sa 18:33) 

Absalom’s murder of Amon and his betrayal of his father did not lessen the grief of David upon learning of his death.

The Bible teaches:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

Sin's wages bring death to more than just our lives. Sin’s wages brings death to relationships.

Relationships die because of sin. No one enters into a marriage relationship with the intention of divorce. Love turns into hate and kills a marriage because of sin. No child desires to become a substance abuser, criminal or spend time in prison but sin kills their future.

David’s sin had killed his family. Rape, murder and betrayal had plagued David’s life ever since the day he stood on the rooftop of his palace and lusted after another man’s wife. The calling out of his sin by the prophet’s parable had brought about David’s repentance.     

The King’s repentance is summed up in these words:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Psa 51:10-12)

David repented and God forgave him so why did these events take place in his life? Sin kills. God was not punishing David. God forgave him. According to the scripture when God forgives sin He casts it, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psa 103:12)

God did not recall David’s sins. He has forgiven and forgotten them so why is his life not fully restored? Why was his family in distress? Why would his son rape his sister? Why would son murder son? Why would his act of generosity of allowing Absalom be rewarded with rebellion? How had this day ended with the words, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Sin kills. The natural consequences of our sin are not abated by our repentance and God’s forgiveness. God wipes the slate clean but the stains of sin in our lives will kill relationships, finance and health. David repented of his sin but Bathsheba’s husband Uriah was still dead; the child from the ill-begotten relationship was still dead. Sin kills.