God’s Presence for Sinners and Sufferers Alike – Sermon by Harold Long
December 10, 2023
- Harold Long
- 2023 Advent Series
- 2 Samuel 11
- 2 Samuel 12
- 2 Samuel 7:13
- Matthew 1:7
- Bathsheba
- David
- David and Bathsheba
- Forgiveness
- Healing
- Jesus
- Jesus the Christ
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-centered Christmas
- Jesus-centered Community
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-Centered Living
- Jesus-looking God
- King David
- Salvation
- Sozo
- Wholeness
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Hello Kingdom Family,
Welcome to our Jesus-centered community. We are glad you are listening to today’s message.
“We are People Helping People Experience a Jesus-centered Life.”
In today’s message, we unpack 2 Samuel 11 & 12. We look at the life of David and Bathsheba, focusing on the sin of David and the need for healing by Bathsheba. We wrestle with why it’s important for forgiveness and healing to take place to experience Emmanuel, God, with us. We also learn how Emmanuel, God with us, means that as Christians, we are Jesus with skin to the world.
The Bible doesn’t paper over the sins of its “heroes.” David, the most famous of Israel’s kings, makes this abundantly clear.
David was the second king of Israel, the one immediately following Saul. It’s hard to say enough of the importance of King David. Biblical architecture is relevant to his story. He is credited with writing most of the book of Psalms. He was heralded as Israel’s greatest king. His biography is recorded with more detail than any other Old Testament figure. Most significantly, God promised that one of David’s offspring would “establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13).
And yet, like many in Jesus’ genealogy, David sinned greatly. His most notorious moment of sin is recorded in 2 Samuel 11, when he used his power to force Bathsheba, a married woman, to have sex with him, then killed her husband (and probably others) to cover it up. Reflect momentarily; how would you respond to such a person in your faith community or family? Would you disown them? Avoid them at all costs?
Yet God includes a man like this in Jesus’ genealogy? Why?
Scripture doesn’t record David’s sins to minimize them or excuse them. It records David’s sins to reveal the scandal of forgiveness. David’s sins are great. God’s power to forgive is greater. We are right to find this offensive. God’s grace is undeserved and scandalous.
But that’s only half of the story.
Because Matthew, the apostle who begins his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, does not merely mention David. He notes that Jesus came from the lineage of David and Bathsheba (Matthew 1:7). This was unheard of in the ancient world, where genealogies only followed the line of the fathers. Matthew paused to highlight this most unlikely couple, David and Bathsheba, together. Why?
There is a hint here that God’s salvation extends to those who have sinned and those who have sinned against Him. David, the sinner, needs forgiveness. Bathsheba, being human, also needs forgiveness. But in the context of 2 Samuel 11–12, she is primarily sinned against … and thus needs healing. The salvation of Jesus offers both.
The Greek word for salvation, sozo (everyone please say “sozo.” literally means “wholeness.” We tend to think of salvation primarily as a matter of forgiveness—dealing with the problem of sin (which is true). But it is just as much a matter of healing—dealing with the problem of suffering (which is also true). The barrier to wholeness changes the road back to wholeness. So, for the sinner, Sozo means forgiveness. For the sufferer, sozo implies healing.
All of us listening to this message need forgiveness and healing.
And since all of us are a mixture of sinners and sufferers alike, sozo means we need forgiveness and healing to be made whole again (sin blocks us from each other and God and creates a soul sickness. We need forgiveness and healing to experience God’s presence again.
This salvation—forgiveness and healing—comes at a great cost. David, reflecting on his sin, said his wrongs must be “purged” and “blotted out” if he was ever to be restored to God’s presence (Psalm 51:1, 9). How can any person on their behalf expunge their record with God?
We all need restoration, placed in a position where we can become happy, joyous, free, and experience wholeness. Amen.
Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated December 10, 2023. The publication contains questions to reflect on as an individual, couple, or small group. You can find them on the home page by clicking the Bulletins and Lesson Plans tab. Today’s message is “God’s Presence for Sinners and Sufferers Alike.”
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Merry Christmas,
Hill-Tran Ministries
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