Past Commentary by a Common Terry
Guilt-Stress-Misery...Forgiven?
August 2, 2026
The consequences of sin can last a lifetime. Often, that is unavoidable. Once the deed (or deeds) is done, what happens next is no longer in our control. History is filled with stories of coverups and efforts to bury the wrongs done and the potential ramifications that can ensue. (Can you say, “Watergate?”) But the damage that might come next may be out of our hands.
David found that out. After he sinned through adultery and murder (it was by proxy, but the blood was still on his hands), the initial consequence was the death of the child Bathsheba bore him as a result of their affair.
But it didn’t end there. God told him there would be other consequences. It was some time later, but it came true. And David, the great king, couldn’t stop it.
After scripture describes the story of David and Bathsheba, we are introduced to David’s son, Absalom, in II Samuel 13. Nathan told David the consequences of his sin would be far-reaching. “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” (II Samuel 12:11-12)
Absalom—the beautiful son of King David. By tradition, he was next in line to be king. However, that came with a serious asterisk. The reason he was the oldest son of David was because he killed his older brother, Amnon. In his mind, he had good reason since Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister. (Amnon had a different mother than Tamar and Absalom.) Therefore, Absalom killed him. Then, in fear of his father, the king, he ran away and stayed away from Jerusalem, living in Geshur for three years.
Eventually David coaxed him back to the Holy City, but they still did not speak to each other for another two years. After they began to speak again, another four years went by.
Nine years is a long time for young man to plot and plan the overthrow of his father, the king. It is also the fulfillment of what God told David in the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. Evil would come up against David from his own house. Absalom led a rebellion against the king. He forced David out of the city. There was, finally, a battle between the opposing forces: those who followed Absalom and those who were loyal to the king.
How far can sin reach? David’s small child died because of his sin. Years later, another son, this time the young man Absalom, would also die in battle. David’s army prevailed, but at great cost to the nation. “And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.” (II Samuel 18:7-8)
And it all started years and years earlier, when David “...saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.” (II Samuel 11:2)
Two sons dead. Thousands more killed in battle. A country, for a while, torn apart through this familial civil war. Sin has long tentacles and quite often we cannot stop the current or stem the tide. The residue and stink lingers.
That is a lot of guilt to carry. That is a lot of stress. It could have debilitated David to such a low point that he would have been an ineffective, useless man on the throne, doing whatever he does, but certainly not being a king.
But that is not how it played out. Paul said the reason David was a man after God’s own heart was that he, “...will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22) This included how David responded to God in his own sin. When Nathan confronted David about his affair with Bathsheba, David replied, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (II Samuel 12:13)
He did not blame God or others when Absalom died. He wept for Absalom. Even when he had to flee the city to escape Absalom, he trusted in the Lord, the One who had guaranteed these things would happen. Psalm 3 is credited to David as he fled. In this psalm, David states God is still his shield, glory, and salvation. (Psalm 3:3,8)
Even in our sin and guilt, we can show loyalty and obedience to God.
David found that out. After he sinned through adultery and murder (it was by proxy, but the blood was still on his hands), the initial consequence was the death of the child Bathsheba bore him as a result of their affair.
But it didn’t end there. God told him there would be other consequences. It was some time later, but it came true. And David, the great king, couldn’t stop it.
After scripture describes the story of David and Bathsheba, we are introduced to David’s son, Absalom, in II Samuel 13. Nathan told David the consequences of his sin would be far-reaching. “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” (II Samuel 12:11-12)
Absalom—the beautiful son of King David. By tradition, he was next in line to be king. However, that came with a serious asterisk. The reason he was the oldest son of David was because he killed his older brother, Amnon. In his mind, he had good reason since Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom’s sister. (Amnon had a different mother than Tamar and Absalom.) Therefore, Absalom killed him. Then, in fear of his father, the king, he ran away and stayed away from Jerusalem, living in Geshur for three years.
Eventually David coaxed him back to the Holy City, but they still did not speak to each other for another two years. After they began to speak again, another four years went by.
Nine years is a long time for young man to plot and plan the overthrow of his father, the king. It is also the fulfillment of what God told David in the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. Evil would come up against David from his own house. Absalom led a rebellion against the king. He forced David out of the city. There was, finally, a battle between the opposing forces: those who followed Absalom and those who were loyal to the king.
How far can sin reach? David’s small child died because of his sin. Years later, another son, this time the young man Absalom, would also die in battle. David’s army prevailed, but at great cost to the nation. “And the men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the loss there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle spread over the face of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword.” (II Samuel 18:7-8)
And it all started years and years earlier, when David “...saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.” (II Samuel 11:2)
Two sons dead. Thousands more killed in battle. A country, for a while, torn apart through this familial civil war. Sin has long tentacles and quite often we cannot stop the current or stem the tide. The residue and stink lingers.
That is a lot of guilt to carry. That is a lot of stress. It could have debilitated David to such a low point that he would have been an ineffective, useless man on the throne, doing whatever he does, but certainly not being a king.
But that is not how it played out. Paul said the reason David was a man after God’s own heart was that he, “...will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22) This included how David responded to God in his own sin. When Nathan confronted David about his affair with Bathsheba, David replied, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (II Samuel 12:13)
He did not blame God or others when Absalom died. He wept for Absalom. Even when he had to flee the city to escape Absalom, he trusted in the Lord, the One who had guaranteed these things would happen. Psalm 3 is credited to David as he fled. In this psalm, David states God is still his shield, glory, and salvation. (Psalm 3:3,8)
Even in our sin and guilt, we can show loyalty and obedience to God.