CP 223 Undone by the 'specific'.

CP 223 Undone by the ‘specific’.

King David was a faithful King in the Lord’s eyes, and, we might add, in his own eyes. Still, along with the rest of Israel, he knew he was beholden to the Lord’s mercy. Then he committed adultery with Bathsheba. At that point, after the Lord God used Nathan the prophet to ‘nail him’ over the adultery, his cover up, and his murder of Uriah, for the first time he understood the full, pervasively ugly truth about himself. All those smug thoughts of self-righteousness were now gone. Consider some of his words from Psalm 51:

“…blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

Against you, you only have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight…

Surely I have been a sinner from birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

David had seen the unwelcome truth about himself and his heart with shocked clarity. No wonder he cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God… Create in me a clean heart, O God...”

Bottom line? David’s comprehension of his Lord’s forgiving, grace-filled heart grew in direct proportion to the depth of his knowledge of the evil in his own ‘Adam’s-heart’! What David had done wasn’t good. The matter of his behaviour was one thing. The foul heart exposed was another altogether. That one sin had completely undone him. I’m sure he didn’t enjoy the exposure. However, in the bigger scheme of things his Lord had done him an eternal favour with his ruthless and searching confrontation. Forgiveness and grace was never a trivial matter for David after Nathan wielded the Lord’s sword. He became a greater King.

In the New Testament, Peter’s encounters with Jesus have a similar lesson to teach us. A genuine good Galilean bloke, albeit known to be a little impulsive, Peter responded to Jesus’ disciple-call. Early on, Jesus convinced him, against his ‘professional’ judgement, to have one more go with the fishing net. It was soon stretched to breaking, pulsating with large fish. Peter went to his knees. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8) So, close to the start of knowing Jesus he knew there was a chasm between him and the Lord’s holiness.

Now, fast-forward to the night of Jesus’ trial. Peter had confidently boasted of his unshakeable loyalty. Jesus called his bluster. “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” Peter’s response? “I never would.” Move on maybe 5-6 hours. The cock crowed as predicted. Peter had denied his Lord, as predicted. “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered… And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:61-62) The fickle disciple knew he needed a Saviour. But the repulsive truth of this exposure undid him completely. However, the Lord had brought him to a very good place. The depth of his specific undoing opened him to the true extent of his Lord’s love and grace. It showed him his need of Good Friday as he’d never seen it before. I believe it made his Apostleship possible.

Both King David and Apostle Peter were ‘undone by the specific’. Found naked, stripped bare and bankrupt. General awareness became utterly personal conviction. A ‘micro-matter’ led to a macro understanding of self without Christ. Blessed men! Blessed? Yes, they looked to the Lord… and lived.

So to us. No need to despise the Lord’s discipline. Welcome it. Be blessed in it. Christ Jesus is everything.

Shalom

Fred