David, the Man After God’s Heart, Was an Adulterer and Murderer—What’s Your Excuse? (22 of 100)

Every little while, a certain meme has its rounds. Each time I see it, I’m bothered by it. While it is probably well meaning, I think it may do more damage than good at times.

My wife is a quiet sort of person and not one to get worked up over this sort of thing, but a couple of weeks ago, she started seeing this meme shared by some of her friends, and it upset her. The meme is often something like this:

Abraham was a liar.

Jacob was a deceiver.

Moses was a murderer.

David was an adulterer.

Paul persecuted the church.

Yet God used them all for His glory.

What’s your excuse?

“I don’t think those ladies understand what they may be saying,” she said, “but I think they’re missing the point. Those men weren’t any of those things when God used them. They repented.”

I agree with my wife. This meme comes from an Easy-Believism that says we can come just as we are and be accepted and loved by God. It stems from the false teaching of Calvanism that has led many to think their sin isn’t so bad, and God’s love is so great that He will not only receive us, but also give us great blessing and honor… um… Just because?

Is it true that these men sinned, and that God used them? Well, that’s only a half truth at best. The full truth is closer to that these men sinned; God judged them for their sin; in their punishment, they repented; and then God redeemed and used them. Even still, the consequences of sin were not erased, following these men the rest of the lives and often beyond.

The message is not that God uses sinful men. In fact, that would seem an affront to a holy God. The message is that God judges sin and redeems the repentant.

Makes me think of another meme that runs around sometime about God knowing the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to destroy us. Another misappropriation of God’s Word that feels good for a Prosperity Gospel. But in Jeremiah 29:11, the context is God telling His people that He will not totally destroy them for their sin, but that they must be in slavery and exile for only seventy years! Then He will implement His plans to restore and prosper them: redemption for repentance.

Did Jesus say to come just as we are? Or did He say, “Repent of your sin! Then come follow Me, and I will make you new”? If our gospel is not Jesus’ gospel, it will not have His power.

Let’s take care with how we handle the Word of God. And let’s take seriously the holiness of God, the ugliness of sin, and the consequences of judgment. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of our living God.

So let us live out our salvation with reverent fear and trembling and rejoice in the merciful redemption of the Lord Jesus!

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Abraham lied about his wife, putting others in danger. At God’s prompting, he was rebuked by a pagan king, driven out of Egypt in shame, and forced to wander again through the wilderness. His fear led others into sin, and God’s judgment followed him until he learned to walk by faith.

Jacob deceived his father and brother to gain riches. As a result, he was forced into exile and spent years as a servant, suffering betrayal and hardship. Only after wrestling with God and being broken did he become Israel—a man God could truly bless.

Moses murdered an Egyptian in a moment of pride and anger. Because of this, he fled for his life to the wilderness and spent forty years in obscurity before God called him. He was not ready to lead until he was humbled, purified, and called by the voice of God from a burning bush.

David committed adultery and arranged a man’s death. God confronted him through the prophet Nathan, and the child born of his sin died. Though forgiven, David’s household never recovered, and he was denied the honor of building the temple. His usefulness came only after deep repentance and many tears.

Paul zealously persecuted the followers of Jesus. God struck him blind on the road to Damascus. In those dark days, he fasted, prayed, and waited until God restored his sight and gave him a new mission—one marked by decades of suffering for the Name he once tried to destroy.

Sin always has consequences. The greatest “heroes of faith” were broken first. They became useful only after they were humbled under God’s hand and repented.

God still uses the repentant—but never without first bringing them low.

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57‬:‭15‬