David's Reversal of Destiny

I have been learning about the most intriguing concept called Reversal of Destiny from the study of Esther by Beth Moore. Many times in Scripture we see where God either directs or allows circumstances or crises to redirect the lives of His people. Usually there is a chapter in the story that is the "hinge" where the destiny turns. That one "hinge" chapter is where the expected or intended outcome suddenly reverses either for the good of those involved or, as in our study of David, leads to the consequences of unchecked sin.
From our first glimpses of David we have no trouble understanding why he is "a man after God's own heart". However, we watch a drastic change of character take place in David in just one chapter in 2 Samuel, which is about one year of his life. In Chapter 11 we follow a dramatic Reversal of Destiny in David's life. His kingship never changes, but the consequences of his sin seem more than any parent should have to bear.
I never fail to read Chapter 11 with a sad heart, sometimes hoping the story has changed. I love David. Yes, apart from Jesus, David is my absolute favorite character of the Bible. Extremely relieved by his confession to Nathan's rebuke and profoundly touched by his responses to his child's illness and death, I am reminded just why David remains my favorite.
What can we learn from David's sudden failure? First and foremost, we must learn to have a heightened awareness of sin in our thought life and get in the habit of confessing wrong thoughts before they proceed to words then deeds. David saw Bathsheba then desired her and so the seed of sin was sown in his mind. He then expressed his interest by telling someone to find out about her which led to sending for her, leading to the sin of adultery. Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Reading, meditating on and memorizing God's Word is how we renew our minds. Doing so will always help us to know and do God's will.
We too, like David, sometimes refuse to resist temptation, giving in to it instead. At this point, the Spirit of God will begin His convicting work which should bring us to confession and repentance. The longer we resist confession and repentance, the more we set ourselves up for a cycle of destruction. David resisted the Spirit's conviction and heaped sin upon sin. His intense selfishness pushed his heart farther away from God.
Whether we are responsive to God's Spirit or to someone's rebuke, like David, our confession should be simple and real; "I have sinned against the Lord." (2 Samuel 12:13) Remember Saul when he was rebuked by Samuel for his disobedience? Saul repeatedly responded with arrogance and even minimized the seriousness of his disobedience. He refused to take responsibility for his actions. When our faraway hearts are finally touched by the Spirit of God's conviction, all that is necessary is to say, "I have sinned." We shouldn't make excuses or blame others. I think David's beautiful prayer of Psalm 51 gives us a perfect example to follow:
1 "Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
There is beautiful evidence of the Father's tender heart toward David that emerges from this tragic situation. God removed the curse from David and Bathsheba's marriage and brought a child from their union. God gave him the name Jedidiah which means, "beloved of the Lord". The Lord loved David's son. The Lord loved David and Bathsheba. The Lord loves us and never turns His back on us. He will discipline us, but He will never forsake, fail or leave us. He always seeks to draw us to a place where we can experience His blessings.
The most magnificent Reversal of Destiny follows as we read in Matthew 1. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:"
"David the king begot Solomon...Solomon begot...And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ." Praise God,
for Jesus Christ, son of David has changed my destiny forever!