Sin's Sting & Redemption's Relief

Being a parent is interesting. Many lessons my parents tried to teach me start to finally make sense when I’m disciplining my children. It’s funny how the teacher becomes the greatest learner. There are many times where I try to help my children understand that disobedience has consequences and it’s not supposed to be comfortable. But there’s also the lesson of reward and redemption. How many times have we been disappointed because our children don’t understand how blessed they are and how much we’ve forgiven them? What I’m discovering is that forgiveness and redemption have little appeal if the consequence of their sin has no sting.

In 2 Samuel, we see a picture of this truth. David commits awful sin through infidelity, murder and deception. When Nathan confronts him, David has true conviction and admits his sin but there were still consequences for his sin. “Then David confessed to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied,‘Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die.’” (2 Samuel 12:13-14) I’d say that consequence had a great sting. But David’s response is interesting.

“When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked. ‘Yes,’ they replied, ‘he is dead.’ Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate. His advisers were amazed. ‘We don’t understand you,’ they told him.‘While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.’

David replied, ‘I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.’” (2 Samuel 12:19-23)

David’s understanding and acceptance of the Lord’s discipline is a sign of maturity and humility but what happens next is so important. “Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child.” 

I love how God never wastes our past but redeems it. God always disciplines those he loves but he also rewards true repentance. So there are two choices we can make when feeling sin’s sting. We can focus on the pain and live in regret or we can press into God’s promise of redemption.

Yes, the consequences sting, but God’s redemption brings relief. If you're feeling sin’s sting but you’ve truly repented, keep leaning into God. Redemption’s relief is near!