Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White
| David's Remorse was as Great as was His Guilt |
|
Today's Text:
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
|
The Message:
Sinners seldom feel right in regard to reproof.... How little sympathy they feel for the one who has carried the heavy load the Lord has laid upon him! They assume the role of a martyr and think they deserve great pity, because they are reproved and counseled contrary to their own ideas and feelings. They may admit some things, but with dogged persistency they hold fast to their errors, their own ideas. "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." To all intents and purposes the Word of God is rejected.... How different was the character of David! Though he had sinned, when God sent him sharp rebukes he always bowed under the chastisement of the Lord. David was beloved of God, not because he was a perfect man, but because he did not cherish stubborn resistance to God's expressed will. His spirit did not rise up in rebellion against reproof.... David erred greatly, but he was just as greatly humbled and his contrition was as profound as his guilt. There was never a person more humble than David under a sense of his sin. He showed himself a strong man, not in always resisting temptation, but in the contrition of soul and sincere penitence manifested. He never lost his confidence in God, who put the stern rebuke in the mouth of His prophet. He had no hatred for the prophet of God. He was beloved, also, because he relied upon the mercy of a God whom he had loved and served and honored. To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much. David did not take counsel of associates who were sinning against God. This is where many fail. They are left in midnight darkness because they choose to counsel with those who walk not in the counsel of the Lord. They will excuse sin in the sinner when it is not repented of, and pass over wrongs when God has not forgiven them. David trusted in God more than in humans. The decision of God was accepted as just and merciful. Oh, how many are walking in blindness and leading others in the same path, where both must perish because they will not heed the reproofs of the Spirit of God!-Manuscript 1a, 1890. |
|
Commentary:
My friend, correction and reproof are difficult for the human heart to accept. This is because "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23). Our hearts are naturally carnal and in rebellion against God, and when we are rebuked and corrected, the natural response is resistance and resentment, but the heart that is renewed from above will be humble, teachable, and will accept the just rebuke and correction as from the Lord.
The condition of the church today is such that God must send a message of rebuke and chastisement. The Faithful and True Witness of God says to His people "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Revelation 3:15-17).
He calls them wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. This message, though direct and painful, is the message that they need to hear. They have fallen from their previous position of blamelessness to wretchedness. They have been deceived into worshiping the false god of the trinity and as such they have a false experience of righteousness by faith, and as such are in the condition that they are.
The only message that can save them is a stern message of warning pointing out their true condition before God. This message, though difficult to bear, must be given. How we react to this message will determine our destinies for all eternity. The Faithful and True Witness says in verse 19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
When David was rebuked and chastened by God he was zealous in his repentance to God. As we receive the message of warning from God, we must in like manner, be zealous in our repentance before God, yet how many in the church today are stubbornly resisting the Spirit of God and rejecting the plain teaching of Scripture as to the One true God? They cling to the false god of the trinity and seek to justify themselves in their error, while the light of truth is shining before them.
My friend, if you have not accepted the light of truth of the One true God, it is time to humble yourself before God, accept His reproof, and be zealous in your repentance before Him. Now is the time for us to surrender our hearts fully to Him, that He may come into our hearts and sup with us.
God bless,
|
|
Video of the Week
|
Comments
Post a Comment