Regular nibbles from the Bible. . .come for a bite, leave with an appetite



May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. (Psalm 19:14, MSG)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR REVOLUTION (2 Samuel 12-13)

Today's devotional is written by Cleo Lampas.


            In this culture in which we live, it is fashionable for friends and family to conduct an intervention for a wayward loved one. As the group gathers around the person who is addicted, promiscuous or erring, each individual confronts the behavior by telling how it negatively affects their life. The hope is that the concern of family and friends will bring about change in actions and attitude of the targeted individual.
            God provided an intervention for David through his prophet. Nathan approached David with the desire to change the King’s sinful heart to repentance. Taking the role of storyteller, Nathan draws David into his account of the rich man with many herds of sheep taking the poor man’s only lamb. When David finished his outburst of rage against such injustice, Nathan says in a calm, cool voice: “Thou art the man.”(King James): The confrontation of sin is achieved with power and conviction. King David repents, but the consequence of his sin still is enforced. The child of his adultery and murder dies. But the matter is settled.
            When given the responsibility of holding an intervention for his lustful son, David fails to act. David should have learned the lesson about the effects of lingering sin when his son, Amnon, violates his half sister, Tamar. But King David reacts to the rape with anger and nothing else. He ignores confronting his son’s criminal behavior. Worse, he does nothing to gain justice for the victim. Because David failed to confront Amnon, then his other son, Absalom, grew bitter until Aabsalom erupted in the murder of Amnon. As head of the household and father of these children, David lacked control needed to confront the situation, which led to more sin and sorrow.
            As a teacher in a class of behavior disordered boys, one of my goals was to help each student take responsibility for their own actions. These students disliked parents, principals, teachers and other students to confront their bad choices. They learned that “other-control” is not as desirable as “self-control”. Interventions changed behavior.
            As Christians, we have intervention of our sin by the prodding of the Holy Spirit or the conviction of the Word of God. Sometimes we are confronted by people who speak the truth with love about us. Lord, let us see ourselves as You do, and repent of our sin.

Cleo Lampos, guest blogger
Author : Teaching Diamonds in the Tough:Mining the Potential in Every Child (Lighthouse of the Carolinas, 2012)
Second Chances, First Book in Series: Teachers of Diamond Project School (Oak Tara, Summer 2013)


            

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