What Does Jehovah's Forgiveness Mean for You? - DAVID'S CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

Of course, Jehovah saw everything that happened. Nothing escapes his attention. (Proverbs 15:3)  Although the king subsequently married Bath-sheba,  "the thing that David had done appeared bad in the eyes of Jehovah." (2 Samuel 11:27) So how did God  react to David's serious sins?  He sent his prophet Nathan to David. Being a God of forgiveness, Jehovah was apparently interested in finding a basis for extending mercy. Do you not find this approach on Jehovah's part heartwarming?  He did not force David to confess but simply had Nathan present the king with a story that illustrated the badness of his sins.  (Read 2 Samuel 12:1-4.)   How effective that way of handling that delicate situation proved to be!

Nathan's illustration stirred up the sense of justice. David became angry at the rich man of the story and said to Nathan: "As Jehovah  is living, the man doing this deserves to die!"  Moreover, David stated that the victim of such an injustice should be compensated for his losses. But then cam a powerful blow. "You yourself are the man!' Nathan declared.  David was then told that as a consequence of his actions,  "a sword would not depart from his house and calamity would strike  his family. He would also be publicly humiliated for his errors. David realized the gravity of what he had done and contritely admitted:  "I have sinned against Jehovah." -2 SAMUEL 12:5-14. 

Next time: What Does Jehovah's Forgiveness Mean for You? - DAVID'S PRAYER AND GOD'S FORGIVENESS

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