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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