Tag: What the Bible says about living in the past

2 Samuel 12:20 (NKJV) 20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.

David had betrayed one of his own men, Uriah, a mighty warrior in Israel’s army.

While Uriah was away at battle, David slept with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and she became pregnant with his child.

Ultimately, David had Uriah positioned in battle so that he would be killed by enemy soldiers.

David then brought Bathsheba to the royal palace, making her his wife.

The prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin, and David was told that, because of what he had done, the child that had been conceived would surely die.

The child was born, and God struck the child so he became ill.

When David saw this, he prayed, fasted and pleaded with God to let the child live.

He laid on the ground, forsaking food for 7 days. Then, the child died.

David’s servants were afraid to tell him of the child’s death. But he perceived that they were distressed, and asked them if the child had died. They confirmed that he had died.

At hearing this, David arose, washed, changed his clothes and then went and worshiped God.

After doing this, he went to his table and requested food.

His servants were baffled by his behavior. They couldn’t understand why he would simply get up, wash and move on with his life after losing a child. They couldn’t comprehend his seeming lack of sadness and mourning.

The thing is, though, that David did mourn. He was sad.

But he chose to get up and move on because he knew that there was nothing he could do to change the outcome of the situation. Nothing that he did would bring his son back. Nothing that he did would undo the consequences of his sin.

This is something that we can all learn from.

Way too often we spend our time looking back, wishing we could change an outcome or undo a choice that we made that caused a less-than-desirable consequence.

None of that does us, or anyone around us, a single bit of good. It is a waste of our time and energy and, in reality, it dishonors God and His sovereignty.

It can also be an insult to those around us, as we push them away in favor of “chasing the past”, trying desperately to hold onto what is gone, instead of holding on to, and appreciating, what (and who) we have right in front of us.

Trust God. Look ahead. Be grateful for His provision and His blessings.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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