A Dad after God's Own Heart - rough
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· 15 viewsNo matter what mistakes you’ve made as a father, no matter what you’ve had as a model before you - there is hope for redemption and relationship for every dad who is willing to act.
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David was not a perfect father. Yet, he is known as a man after God’s own heart. No matter what mistakes you’ve made as a father, no matter what you’ve had as a model before you - there is hope for redemption and relationship for every dad who is willing to take heart-felt, genuine action.
Dad, deal (now) with your sin
Dad, deal (now) with your sin
(Let me persuade you now to deal with your sin)
Your sin won’t stay hidden
“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
Sin will surely find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we may repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin. - Matthew Henry
Your sin is dangerous
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Be killing sin, or it will be killing you - John Owen
Your sin affects your family
I thought mine didn’t - I spent years doing drugs and acting in all sorts of selfish sinful indulgence, all the while denying the affect it had on Jamie or my kids.
God says otherwise...
“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
Look at David
David is at home being idle while his men are all out fighting battle and falls into temptation (2 Sam 11:2,4)
Dad, we have to be with our fellow soldiers. If you don’t have Godly men in your life helping you grow in holiness and fight sin, you are asking for trouble. - Spend time with Godly men.
David sees Bathsheba, brings her to his bed and takes her for himself. (We know the rest of the story too, don’t we! - pregnancy, lies, deceit, abuse of power, murder)
Look at the effects of David’s sin
Nathan the prophet reveals to David what he has done - “you are the man” - 2 Samuel 12:1-11 - and what judgement would look like:
First, the sword would not depart from his house - i.e. David, who used the sword to kill Uriah would feel the devastation and destruction of such violence in his own household.
Second, David would know what it was like to have another sleep with his wife (wives), and this time not in secret but in the open.
Sure enough, David and Bathsheba’s child dies 7 days after birth (2 Samuel 12:10-11)
Later, David’s first-born follows David’s pattern of lust and actually rapes his own half-sister, despising and disgracing her afterwords. (2 Samuel 13)
Her brother, David’s son Absalom silently plans his revenge for two years and then has Amnon murdered.
Absalom is from then on at odds with David. He runs away for three years in exile until finally returning home.
Eventually Absalom deceptively turned the peoples hearts away from their King and positioned himself as their savior. He rises up against David, who flees with his household, leaving his concubines behind.
Guess what Absalom does? Fulfilling Nathan’s prophecy he pulls the ultimate power play
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
David loves his son, and doesn’t want him to come to harm. But eventually, they go to battle and Absalom’s famous hair becomes his downfall, leaving him hanging in a tree like a pinata at a birthday party. David’s general Joab couldn’t resist.
He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.
David must mourn yet another of his children
The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
David’s sin greatly affected his family
Dad, sexual sin isn’t harmless - it grows. It affects your heart, isolates you and hurts those around you. It shows itself in ugly ways and those around you pick up on it, even when you think you’ve done a good job of hiding.
Truly Repent like David
Psalm 51
James 4:8-10
Young man, beware - it doesn’t get easier with age. You must attack it now!
Get help! Don’t think you have to wait til you are strong enough to fight it - if you were you wouldn’t be in the mess you are in. Cry out to God and to your brothers for help!
Bring it to the light, that you may be cleansed! (1 John 1:7-9)
Act, push forward and pursue healing and holiness in Christ Jesus!
Your sin is not the final word!
Old covenant demanded David’s keeping of the law and sacrifices, yet he knew it was about far more than outward ceremonies and rituals - he needed the cleansing that God alone could do!
He did it, finally and fully in David’s offspring - Jesus of Nazareth.
Our justification in Him
Not try harder
Ex. Cancer patient told to try harder to be well
Turn and Trust in Him
Trust His Word, His Work
Keep trusting! Discouraged, distanced - Remember what is finished!
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Our sanctification through Him
Walk in the forgiveness He’s given you!
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
Don’t withdraw from it, and from them!
There is forgiveness and healing in Jesus. Receive forgiveness and then walk in it. Pursue healing and share it with others.
Dad, love God, your wife and your kids
Dad, love God, your wife and your kids
If you’re hiding your sin, you’re hiding yourself from God and your family. Repent, confess and love them like Jesus!
#1 - love God
#2 - love your wife (not like David, like Jesus)
#2 - love your kids (sacrifice isn’t indulgence, but it is selfless)
Dad, love your God
Dad, love your God
The way to their hearts is through God’s heart
Be faithful and devoted
Show them the way
Teach them the way