Friday: Further Thought ~ The Cost of Rest
Further Thought:
“David’s repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort to palliate his crime. No desire to escape the judgments threatened, inspired his prayer. … He saw the defilement of his soul; he loathed his sin. It was not for pardon only that he prayed, but for purity of heart. … In the promises of God to repentant sinners he saw the evidence of his pardon and acceptance. … ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.’ Psalm 51.16-17.
Image @ Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Though David had fallen, the Lord lifted him up …
David humbled himself and confessed his sin, while Saul despised reproof and hardened his heart in impenitence.
This passage in David’s history is … one of the most forcible illustrations given us of the struggles and temptations of humanity, and of genuine repentance. … Through all the ages … thousands of the children of God, who have been betrayed into sin, … have remembered … David’s sincere repentance and confession … and they also have taken courage to repent and try again to walk in the way of God’s commandments.
Whoever … will humble the soul with confession and repentance, as did David, may be sure that there is hope for him. … The Lord will never cast away one truly repentant soul.” — Ellen G.
White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 725, 726.
Discussion Questions:
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The story of David is a tough one, particularly when we look at it through our modern eyes. We try to imagine what would have happened if the events of David's life had played out in our modern world with paparazzi, ubiquitous mobile phones, traditional and social media, all competing for the latest bit of juicy conflict to oil the machinery of advertising. We would be listening every morning to the TV breakfast hosts as they recounted the news with relish and rumour. One of our federal government leaders who touted "family values" got his press secretary pregnant, and you could almost see the media moguls licking their lips with anticipation. This was going to make headlines (and make them a lot of money). And for about a month the whole sordid episode was discussed and dissected. Dozens of experts were brought in to give their considered opinion - and the opposition party had a field day.
Humans are voyeurs at heart. We have some sort of fascination for the distress of other people especially when they get in trouble because of their greed, lust, or sheer stupidity. Witness how long Bill Clinton's infidelity played out in the media. I think that it probably gives a sense of moral superiority. We, of course would never to that! I call it the "sick chook syndrome"(chook is Australian for chicken). When a chook displays signs of illness, all the other chooks in the yard attack it.
At the heart of it, that is one of the problems with the story of David. While we marvel at his repentance and the forgiveness of God, we like to say something like, "If God can forgive David for his sins, then surely he can forgive us -because we are not nearly as bad as that!" We cast ourselves as better than David - just a little bit of pride here.
Perhaps it is time to pray another prayer of David:
Come unto me all you who have labored and are heavy laden and I will gave you rest. Matt 11:30.
The Cost of rest.
Nothing is free and so is rest. Rest has a price to it. For David to experience real rest in Jesus he had to pay a big price. But what about Uriah, the baby and Bathsheba, did they also experience real rest? Only eternity will tell.
David sins affected his immediate household and lasted for several generations. Many times we, Christians knew the story so well but we still risked being trapped in the same lies the devil used with David. Self confidence. We are so confident of ourselves we take risks upon risks just to fall into sin.
We always thought it can’t happen to us cause we are strong, just to know we weren’t as strong as we thought we were. But what about the sins of omission and the sins of commission? How many times we commit these sins which we thought is hid from the Lord.
As we rest in Christ and in his power to overcome sins, sins will not have its grip on us. Take his yoke.
God will not work to save us if we will not cooperate with Him. Let's remember it takes the body and the soul to work effectively. The spirit of Prophecy talks about the right action of the will and there is a Statement that I like so much which says : Strength to resist temptation is best gained by aggressive service. In Matthew 11: 28 - 30 we find two rests. One rest happens as we come to Jesus and another rest happens when we take the yoke of Christ upon ourselves. When we take the yoke of Christ upon ourselves we shall find rest for our souls. It's said in the scriptures that Jesus went about doing good which means that He did it voluntarily. In all of Christ's work lifting humanity from the quagmire was His sole purpose. The temptations that assail us is a doing nothing attitude. We have a work to do for God both within and without the Church. Let's get focused for God has promised to be with us till the end of the world. Commenting on Matthew 11: 28 - 30, the Spirit of Prophecy has this to say : our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet. Ministry Of Healing page 481 - 482. May the good Lord grant us courage with which to advance cause in such a time as this.
So often, or shall I say most of the time we compare ourselves to others to gauge our level of sinfulness. Or said in reverse our worthiness of heaven. God said all our righteousness is as filthy rags! When I compare myself to Jesus then I cry as Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. We would do well to consider our own filthy rags before condemning others. Jesus said in Matthew 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
This is something God is really working on me with. Reminding me to consider myself before I condemn someone else. Not too long ago my wife and I were out driving (I was doing 55 mph on a curvy country road) and she said YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN. I responded, do you want to drive? In my head I had this quick conversation. If she hadn't said it that way, or she wouldn't have said it like that to someone else, I would have responded differently. Then, Humbly yes Lord how she made her request has zero bearing on "HOW" I SHOULD have responded.
When God gets our attention, as David, we need to run back to the foot of the cross in repentance asking for forgiveness and cleansing or recreating of a new heart of flesh in us.
‘There was no effort to palliate his crime. No desire to escape the judgments threatened, inspired his prayer.’
Myron it sounds to me no matter where we live in this world the issues with sin is the same. We always asked spouses to slow down and the answer remains the same. Were you trying to palliate the reason for your driving? On every curve we are told to slow down because of impending danger we can’t foresee.
David didn’t foresee the great danger coming to him and his household when he entered into sin but the consequences followed. Did David ever found rest in his household, if yes for how long. If no, why not?
In response to the discussion questions:
1. The balance between guilt and finding Rest is as simple as: "repent and believe". Isn't this the central teaching of Ps 51?
2. All sin is against God because, “Sin is the transgression/violation of the Law” – 1 Jn 3:4, which God is the Author of. Sinners transgress this law whenever acting in opposition to the revealed will of God.
3. Sin brings suffering and death, which often includes those who are innocent of wrongdoing. Any who choose to exercise unbelief will not understand(Dan 12:10) and will question God's justice. This is why all are invited to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
4. This "sordid story", along with others in scripture which reveal the weakness of men are recorded because God knows humanity, and how often this story is repeated. So He offers to all the same pardon and cleansing every sinner needs. This is just one of many stories which encourages the sinner to “repent and believe the Gospel” to find Rest.
5. What sinner needs to be told what guilt feels like when scripture tells us "the way of peace they have not known", or "they have no rest day or night"? The guilty know it, if they have not completely silenced the Voice of reproof(John 16:8) by rejecting it, placing themselves beyond its reach. I also believe that most know where to turn, because it is God who bids them(Titus 2:11,12), and He will lead them to find the answer from those who have experienced this Rest themselves(e.g. the jailer in Philippi, those convicted on Pentecost, etc), for anyone else would be unable to help them.
In conclusion: the cost of Rest is given by Jesus who says, "buy of Me" the emblems of this Rest. What is the price? "Be zealous therefore and repent"(Rev 3:18,19) which is how we exercise faith in His promise. In other words, the cost is: "let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me". Most will feel this price is too costly for eternal life in the city of God.
At the beginning of the week, I was really struggling to figure out what the title even meant. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t get it. Here we are at Friday and I now get it. The cost, for me, is me being willing to give up whatever it is in my life that keeps me separated from My Heavenly Father. David humbled himself, made no excuses for the evil thing he did and repented. He then asked God to give him a clean heart and a right spirit. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I picture the rich young ruler after Jesus explained to him what it would take to have eternal life. He hung his head, sad, because he was not willing to do that, at least not right then. Who had peace? David was an adulterer, schemer and murderer, the rich young ruler was, in his eyes, a good person. And yet he went away sorrowful. David, in Psalm 52 rejoices. The chapter seems to describe himself before his repentance and after his repentance. He sounds at peace.
Opinions/observations/comments on discussion questions:
# 1 – The balance between our sinfulness and need for forgiveness is accomplished when staying close to the heart of God - asking for ‘ongoing forgiveness’. The redeemed heart and mind seeks to be right with the Father at all times, not just at the moment when entering to live in his heavenly kingdom here on earth. Actually, once entered with sincerity and commitment, then it is when the Holy Spirit reveals to the willing heart and mind those hidden matters which need cleansing.
#2 – Sin is the willful act of defying the Authority of God with one’s actions; God’s Authority governs all life. If ‘life’ wants to enter eternity, ‘life’ will need to do so according to the laws governing Life; continued, unrepented sins against God lead to non-existence/death.
#3 – Evil deeds committed by man against man are evident everywhere all the time. God’s perfect Wisdom reserves the ultimate judgement for the end of times - all will be weight by the 'law of the balance of Life'.
When keeping in mind God’s promise of His loving, just, and tender presence in all human experiences, the personal experience of perceived injustice will not weigh so heavy on one's own mind when offering forgiveness to the one who wronged us. We trust that, in the end, God’s perfect Law of life will balance all things out.
#4 – It could be used for the example to learn that all sin and fall short of the Glory of God; that forgiveness is offered to the repentant child of God who wants nothing more than to live life in God’s Grace.
#5 – Our heavenly Father offers His tender watch care to all who live in His heavenly kingdom here on earth - the doors are wide open (both ways)! He deploys His Holy Spirit to direct our heart and mind to accept the changes needed.
Why would one not accept? Who would not want to be included in His heavenly family with like-minded, loving brothers and sisters in Christ?
Willful, defiant, rejectors of the Father of all Life would do so. We are not called to be their judge, but are called to prayerfully ask the Father to give us wisdom how best to reach them for His kingdom as we employ His love.
The song ‘Amazing Grace’ moves me in the deepest sense of ‘home-coming’, and I want this to be everyone’s experience!
Sometimes a conclusion is reiterating.
Thank God the cost was payed for by Christ. We turn to Christ believing He can cleanse us and make us whole, if we do not reject Him working in us.
For He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21.
Christ makes a covenant with us, when He shall take away our sins. Romans 11:27. Notice that we do nothing to make us white as snow, we are not the hyssop, rather it is Christ residing in us who cleanses us, taking care of the mess for us.
The God of peace making us Holy. So it is Christ residing in us that preserves our body, spirit, and soul, not us, it is Devine power that sustains us until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23.
I love it. This puts Christ at the forefront as our Saviour, not I, but Christ. He is doing all of this for us. If only the Isrealites would have recognized this, instead of wanting to stone David even though he had asked for and recieved forgiveness.
Like Paul we die daily(ask for forgiveness of sins), not to avoid punishment, but to keep the Sustainer of Life in us. Peace abideth, when He abideth in us, a gift from God. John 14:27.