GOD MAY SAY NO: 2 SAMUEL 12:13-23

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. God May Say No

a) God as our Heavenly Father wants to give his children those things or circumstances that will be for their good and which will glorify Him (Matthew 7:11). He desires that we pray at all times to Him and expect an answer from Him (Hebrews 11:6). However, He may say no to our request if His purpose and His will be better served in another way to glorify His name and be a witness to others.

2. 2 Samuel 12:13-23

a) David prayed for the life of his son. The son died because of David's sin with Bathsheba. It is a lesson for us - sin has its consequences. 

2 Samuel 12:13-23
13 Then David exclaimed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord!” Nathan replied to David, “Yes, and the Lord has forgiven your sin. You are not going to die. 14 Nonetheless, because you have treated the Lord with such contempt in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.”

15 Then Nathan went to his home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill. 16 Then David prayed to God for the child and fasted. He would even go and spend the night lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, “While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!”

19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” They replied, “Yes, he’s dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate.

21 His servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!” 22 He replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Perhaps the Lord will show pity and the child will live. 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!’”


The End ...

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