David, a Man After God’s HeartSample

God does not leave wickedness unpunished

“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” (2 Samuel 12:10)

David had committed adultery and murder, but he had carefully covered up his sins. Hardly anyone knew what he had done, and David thought he could just go on with his life. But the Lord God did know what had happened, and He did not let this evil go unpunished. The prophet Nathan confronted David about his actions and announced God's punishment.

David had ordered Uriah to be killed with a sword and then had taken Uriah's wife for himself. Therefore, his own family would suffer similar horrors: “The sword shall never depart from your house” and “I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor.”

God punishes injustice indiscriminately. David was king of Israel, but that did not give him the right to take Uriah's wife. He was powerful enough to have someone killed and keep it hidden, but he could not fool God.

Let this story be a warning to us. Don't think you can hide certain sins and thus escape God's punishment. If you have sinned, it is far better to confess it and ask God for forgiveness.

Has anything happened in your life that you are trying to keep secret? How does that affect your relationship with God?