2 Samuel 24:5-8 – Struck to the Heart
The turning point in this chapter is verse 10, when David’s heart struck him. I said earlier that this chapter doesn’t present David in a great light. But that’s only partly true. David is being pictured here for us warts and all. This event seems to be towards the end of his life. And there’s a warning here that it’s possible for a believer to commit bigger sins later in life than they ever did when they were younger. Growth in grace doesn’t automatically come with age. Yes we would expect and hope that people who have been Christians a long time will have a spiritual depth and maturity to them. But it’s also possible that someone could have been a Christian for decades, and still be spiritually immature. I’m not saying that’s the case for David. It isn’t. I’m just saying we shouldn’t assume that just because someone has been a Christian for a long time, that a path of action they’re taking is wise or godly. And nor should we assume for ourselves that we are ‘safe’ from committing big sins once we get to a certain age.
Yet we do see a David here who has grown in his faith. Because he’s now more aware of his own sin. What do you think of when you think of a spiritually mature Christian? Is it just someone who’s been a Christian a long time? Is it someone who knows a lot, and can quote a lot of the Bible? Is it someone who can talk a lot about the sins of society? Why I say that David has grown as a Christian here is because do you remember what happened after he sinned with Bathsheba? And had her husband killed? He just got on with life. Nathan the prophet had to come to him and show him his sin in such a way that David was cut to the heart. But here, David’s heart strikes him before the prophet comes. And he confesses his sin before it’s exposed. What a mark of grace it is to confess a sin to God or another person before you’re called to account about it, rather than after.
Question
- Does getting older always result in spiritual maturity?
- How did David show he had grown spiritually?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would grow as believers in Christ.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.