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Seemingly, it has change into an on a regular basis incidence to open your favorite Christian information outlet and study of one more pastor or ministry chief who has had one other sexual indiscretion uncovered. For some it occurred final week and for others it was 35 years in the past.
If you’re like me, it will possibly make your head spin with extra questions than there appear to be solutions to. These kinds of conditions drive us, hopefully, again to God’s Word, to get course and perception into such problematic issues. And but, after we open the Old Testament, we study {that a} man who dedicated adultery, had the lady’s husband killed, and coated it up was known as a person after God’s personal coronary heart. And not solely that, however he was additionally thought of a righteous King of Israel whereas having a number of wives. His identify, King David. How will we wrestle with the strain and reply the query, “If King David is a person after Gods’ personal coronary heart, why so many wives?”
I wish to first return to the start of David’s life. The genesis of his conception.
David says in Psalm 51:5: “Behold, I used to be introduced forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mom conceive me.”
David made this assertion upon reflecting on his affair/adultery with Bathsheba. I feel he was probably tying his actions to how he himself got here into existence in his personal life.
The Bible doesn’t point out King David’s mom by identify. A Jewish legend has named her Nitzevet, however there isn’t any biblical affirmation of that identify. David’s father lived in Bethlehem and was from the tribe of Judah. David was the youngest of eight brothers. He additionally had a minimum of two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail. The solely factor we all know from the Bible about David’s mom is what he stated about her in Psalm 86:16, when he referred to her as a girl who served God as he did.
Some students consider David’s sisters, Abigail and Zeruiah, could have been his half-sisters and that their father was not Jesse however Nahash.
Nahash was an Ammonite king. Speculation means that David’s mom had been married to Nahash when she bore the half-sisters after which later grew to become the second spouse or mistress of Jesse. Further hypothesis implies that David’s mom was not but married to Jesse when she grew to become pregnant—that maybe she was nonetheless married to Nahash when she conceived David.
This principle may clarify why David was not accepted by his household. The principle may also shed some mild on Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I used to be introduced forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mom conceive me”
Let’s assume the extrabiblical data tells us that David sadly repeated the sin of his mom. He had an affair with Bathsheba. Now we aren’t but answering the query, “Is polygamy okay for a follower of Jesus who’s termed an individual after God’s personal coronary heart?” But here’s what we do know from Psalm 51:5 and the extra-biblical literature. Adultery is a sin in God’s eyes, David’s eyes, and it will appear David’s mom’s eyes.
So, how may David be termed, “A person after God’s personal coronary heart” with the variety of wives he had?
As finest as we will inform, he had eight wives, though solely three of them are mentioned intimately within the Bible.
Bathsheba was the ultimate spouse we’re conscious of within the Bible that David marries. But he, not like with the opposite seven, dedicated adultery together with her.
I would like you to note one thing. David stops taking wives so far as we will inform after this. The Bible says King David’s actions displeased the Lord.
God was not okay with David committing adultery with Bathsheba after which orchestrating it so David may take her as his eighth spouse.
When God established the nation of Israel, He wished them to be a nation that was set aside, completely different. He gave directions to Moses for a way a King of Israel was to reside in another way in Deuteronomy 17:17: “He shall not purchase a number of wives for himself, or else his coronary heart will flip away from God” (Amplified Bible).
This is necessary to see as a result of God wished His King to be a husband to at least one spouse. So why was David a person after God’s personal coronary heart with so many wives? Here is why I consider so:
1. When he sinned with Bathsheba, he knew it was unsuitable and repented (Psalm 51:5)
People after God’s personal coronary heart usually are not good folks however individuals who repent and take possession of their story and the half they play in its destruction.
2. David stopped amassing wives after Bathsheba.
I consider this confirmed his repentance of his actions to amass a number of wives. He realized he was modelling the world’s behaviour as an alternative of God’s plan. He could not give the wives again, however he may cease sinning as such and now not amass extra.
3. David continued to fulfil His goal and calling for God after his sin with Bathsheba.
Why is that this being an individual after God’s personal coronary heart? Because sin doesn’t negate God’s use of us. However, the individual doesn’t make this alternative, God does by way of correct authority channels. Nathan advised David, “God may kill you for this, however He will not.” But repentance does not then work to “cowl it up for the nice of the church.”
Repentance requires humility and a willingness to simply accept consequence within the face of failure. David did that. He confessed, submitted, and accepted the implications. I pray ministry leaders as we speak will observe His instance. If you’re a individual after God’s personal coronary heart, you’ll come clear, submit, settle for the implications, and work towards therapeutic and restoration for the nice of all concerned even, on the expense of your self. Sadly, we aren’t seeing a lot of this spirit in our fallen leaders as we speak. May God restore this spirit as we speak. Oh, how we want it – now!
