Read: Matthew 1:5-17, 2 Samuel 11:6-17 Everyone has skeletons in their family closet. Every family has secrets that they would rather not be shared with the world. Every family has a history that includes broken, sinful people and the terrible things that they have done.
Our modern media feeds on these kinds of scandals, taking great pleasure in exposing the sordid deeds of the past (or the present) and parading them before the world. Usually, because of loss of reputation or personal hurt, those closest to these kinds of scandals would far prefer to keep them swept under the rug, hidden from the prying eyes of the public. Matthew doesn't take this approach with Jesus' family. Matthew reminds us that even Jesus had some incredible skeletons in His family closet. Rather than sweep them under the carpet Matthew exposes them for all the world to see. As we glance through the genealogy in chapter one we see stories of incest, prostitution, lust, greed, adultery, violence, corruption and even murder.
Perhaps the most scandalous and horrifying of these scandals is the story of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. The story truly is shocking. David, God's chosen king over His people is at home, lounging around in his palace whilst God's people are in the field in tents fighting for the kingdom. While he is walking on the roof of his palace he sees Bathsheba bathing on a nearby roof. David sends for a servant, "Who is that woman?" The servant replies, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Overcome with lust David disregards God and His standards by sending for and lying with Bathsheba, another man's wife.
The story doesn't improve. Bathsheba becomes pregnant with David's son. David, seeking to cover up his own heinous sin, sends for Uriah the Hittite to return from the battle. David hopes that Uriah will sleep with his wife Bathsheba and cover up David's sin but Uriah is too honourable. Instead he sleeps at the door of the palace where the servants of the king sleep, unwilling to enjoy the pleasures of life at home while the people of Israel are dwelling in tents on the field of battle.
One would hope that at this point David would own up to his sin and seek to make things right. Instead David keeps sliding down the long, slippery slope of sin all the way to the bottom. David uses his authority as king to have Uriah put on the very front lines of the battle and for the rest of the men of Israel to withdraw from him. David allows God's enemies to carry out his own dirty work. After Bathsheba mourns her husband David takes her as his wife.
The king of God's people has committed a terrible crime against Bathsheba, against Uriah, against his kingdom and ultimately against God. However this account is about far more than just adultery, deception and murder. There is a much deeper sin at play here. David views himself as above God's people, above reproach and even above God's law. David abuses his God given authority as king for the purposes of his own pleasure and to protect his own reputation. When Nathan rebukes David in the next chapter this is the sin that is highlighted and brought before David.
As far as family scandals go this is certainly as doozie. God promised Abraham that through him all the nations of the Earth would be blessed. At this point in history even David, the king after God's own heart, is abusing the people of the Earth rather than blessing them.
Why would Matthew point out this terrible tale in his genealogy? This is the truly incredible part of the story. God uses David and Bathsheba as ancestors of Jesus Christ. God takes the terrible sin of His people and He uses it for the sake of His incredible redeeming purposes. God is able to take the abuse of a sinful, human king and use it to bring about the blessing that comes from our sinless, divine, perfect King. God is able to use skeletons and scandals for the sake of His purposes and plan.
Whatever you have done in your past, whatever sins you have committed or had committed against you, whatever terrible things have happened God can use it all for His glory and plan. You are never too broken or dirty for God to use you to reach and bless others with the love of Christ. This is not an excuse for us to sin and disregard God's law, instead we can always remember that we are never too far gone for God to use us and to change us to be more like Him. As we remember this we strive for holiness by the power of Christ in us. We are never too far gone for God to use us to bless others and to share Him with them. Will you allow God to use you today?
Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
- Praise God for His grace to us through Jesus Christ. Praise Him that our sins are not remembered or held against us because of the the sacrifice of Christ. Praise God that He can use the lost and the broken for the sake of His purposes and plan. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage those in your congregation who are discouraged about sin in their lives. Pray that they would be empowered to live Holy lives that bring glory and honour to God in all they do.
- Pray for the final MOPS meeting of the year today at ChristLife. Pray that the community mums who attend would be encouraged and challenged by the meaning and implications of Christmas. Pray that God would be working in their hearts so that they and their families might turn to faith in Him. Pray that the church mums who attend would encourage the community mums as they seek to demonstrate God's love to them and that they would be bold in sharing the gospel.
My Additional Prayer Points
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