RESTORATION
David, a powerful yet modest shepherd, is chosen by God to succeed Saul as king of Israel.
Although modest, he exalts himself and readily rejects the views of others. Early in his childhood,
when given the chance to wield Saul’s regal armor, he kills the giant Goliath with a sling stone,
demonstrating his humility. His most important trait as a king is submission to God. For instance,
David rebukes his wife for feeling embarrassed by his dancing as he marches into Jerusalem and
boasts that he will disgrace himself as long as it pleases God. David’s compassion for others
exemplifies his altruism, a result of his ardent dedication to moral principles. He shows a surprising
sense of propriety by not killing Saul while Saul is facing the other way. David rejects the simple
chance to attack because he believes that striking God’s current would be ethically wicked for a
chosen leader. David, as king, pardons the kingdom’s traitors and puts to death his opponents’
traitors. when his own disobedient When son passes away, David publicly sobs, “O my son Absalom,
my son.”
Absalom, my son! ” (2 Samuel 18:33). His sobbing reveals the depth of a father’s unwavering
devotion to his son.
King David made the decision to remain in Jerusalem at the start of the events while sending
the rest of the Israelite army to battle other nations and rulers. David is taking a leisurely stroll on the
palace roof when he spots a stunning woman taking a bath there. She caught David’s attention right
once, and he sent messengers to learn more about her. Her name was Bathsheba, the messengers
reported to David, and she was Uriah’s wife and the daughter of Eliam. David sent for her and had a
sexual encounter with her despite being aware that she was married. Later, Bathsheba informs David
that she is pregnant. David feared that his adultery would now be exposed and felt anxious. In order
to cover up the fact that Bathsheba was carrying David’s child, the King requested that Uriah return
home and spend the night with his wife. Uriah, however, was unwilling to spend the night with his wife
while the other men were engaged in combat. David was furious that his strategy had not succeeded.
When Uriah returned to battle, King David gave the army commander orders to place Uriah in the
front lines and to pull back so that he would die. After mourning her husband’s passing, Bathsheba
was taken to King David to become his wife. When the prophet Nathan went to see King David, he
informed him of the Lord’s wrath and disapproval of David. Nathan informed David that the boy
Bathsheba was expecting would die, despite the fact that David had atoned for his guilt.
Consider the circumstances and factors that led up to David’s sin:
- disregard for his company. At Jerusalem, he remained. We are in temptation when we are not
doing our duties. - Love of comfort: Idleness provides the tempter a significant edge.
- A roving gaze. Like Job, he had not formed a pact with his eyes, or he had forgotten it at this point.
And pay attention to the sin’s steps. Observe how the path of sin goes downward; once folks start
acting evilly, they find it difficult to stop. Observe how the sin gets worse. David knew he was guilty of
it himself, so how could he correct or punish others for it? Giving in to sin causes the heart to become
stony and causes the Holy Spirit to leave. Taking a man’s reason away from him is worse than taking
his money away from him, and leading him into sin is worse than leading him into any sort of problem
in this world.
In 2 Samuel 11–12:25, the tragic tale of David and Bathsheba is detailed. Bathsheba is taken
to David at his urging, and “he laid with her” (2 Samuel 11:4), with ramifications that are still felt today.
There is no indication in the Bible that Bathsheba participated voluntarily in this wrongdoing; only
David’s acts are described. It makes sense that when a king calls for someone, they could be
reluctant to come in front of him or voice their disagreement. We are unsure. Despite the eventual
good that came from their subsequent relationship as husband and wife, David and Bathsheba are
forever bonded by that transgression.
Before God rejected Saul, David was a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:12–15), a fierce warrior (1
Samuel 17:23–51), and the second king of Israel before Saul (1 Samuel 18:5). David was a member
of the Judah tribe and was born in Bethlehem. He was the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth (and he
is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ). Given that David was anointed (1 Samuel 10:1) and was the
greatest king of Israel, to suggest he was special would be to understate his significance in God’s
story. He expanded Israel’s territory and military might while guiding his people toward God. He won
several battles and made a united Israel a formidable nation. According to 2 Samuel 11, Bathsheba
was the lovely wife of Uriah the Hittite and the daughter of Eliam. Bathsheba was David’s eighth of at
least eight named wives during the course of his life. Bathsheba became pregnant with Solomon after
their first child passed away. After David’s passing, Bathsheba offered advice to Solomon later in life
(1 Kings 2:13-24).
Let’s examine David and his status as a man “after God’s own heart” to better comprehend
the effects of his wrongdoing (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David dispatched Joab during the season
of the year when kings go to war, but David stayed in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1, 1 Chronicles 20:1).
A woman was bathing when David “up from his couch and was going on the roof of the king’s house,”
and “the woman was very attractive” (2 Samuel 11:2). When he inquired about her, he learned that
she was Uriah the Hittite’s wife, Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter. As we saw earlier, David despatched
messengers to have her brought to him, where he then laid with her. As soon as she realized she was
pregnant, David sought to cover it up by ordering Uriah to return from battle in the hopes that he
would sleep with Bathsheba, his wife. While his friends were fighting on the front lines, Uriah
demonstrated courage by refusing to seek solace (2 Samuel 11:11). Ironically, it also complied with
the Law’s requirements for purification during times of conflict (Deuteronomy 23:9-11). In this case,
Uriah the Hittite outperformed King David, the God-anointed Jew, in terms of righteousness. Unfazed,
David dispatched Uriah to the front lines of the most intense battles in the hopes that he would be hit
and die, which is exactly what happened (2 Samuel 11:15-17). David’s violation resulted in the death
of his and Bathsheba’s first child, whilst Uriah’s dignity led to his demise.
Following her period of grieving for Uriah’s passing, David married Bathsheba as his wife, but
“the thing that David had done angered the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). The son of David and Bathsheba
was born, but “the kid was smitten by the Lord, and it grew ill” (2 Samuel 12:15). David fasted and
begged God, but to no avail. The kid perished (2 Samuel 12:16-19). Bathsheba, David’s wife, was
comforted by him, and she subsequently gave birth to Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24).
APPLICATION
● Not always does forgiveness entail no repercussions (2 Samuel 12:13-14).
After the death of the son of David and Bathsheba for whom he had fasted and prayed, David
honored the Lord and declared what he had learned about Him (2 Samuel 12:20-22). Are we in God’s
position to demand that He grant a “yes” to every request? Without a doubt. David recognized that,
and so ought to us. Sin has repercussions, as David demonstrated. Our sins have an impact on both
us and those around us.
● God is aware of every sin.
Thus, the sword will never leave your home, the prophet Nathan told David (2 Samuel 12;10).
God is all-knowing. He can observe everything that is happening in the cosmos (Hebrews 4:13).
Christians should be concerned about their sin because, as Romans 14:12 states, they will have to
account to God.
● All sin has an impact on others, and we are powerless to stop it.
David was unable to manage Bathsheba’s or his own sadness as a result of his
transgression, nor was he able to save the child from dying. He had no control over how God would
respond, the discord in the family, etc. Temptation frequently promotes a conceited attitude toward
situations over which we believe we have more control than we actually have.
● Sin needs to be addressed.
David adored the Lord and begged God to forgive him for his heinous sin (Psalm 51). When
Nathan faced David, he may have run the risk of losing his life, but David understood that his offense
was against God and that only God could pardon him. With a broken and contrite heart as well as a
contrite spirit, we can also approach God (Psalm 51:17). Prior to confessing our crimes against other
people, we must first recognize that we have sinned against God. Because of pride or ignorance,
Christians frequently require another brother or sister to point out their sin (Galatians 6:1).
● Everybody has the capacity for immense evil.
David, a man God called one after His own heart and a man He picked to govern a united Israel,
committed adultery and murder. As Saul, a Pharisee, Paul, who is arguably the greatest Apostle,
decimated the early Christian church and oversaw Stephen’s stoning. On the way to Damascus, Saul
met Jesus, and his life was permanently altered. Every day, countless murders and other heinous
crimes are carried out, some covertly and some publicly.
● All things are used by God
(Psalm 51, 2 Samuel 12:24, Romans 8:28). We can put our faith in God as followers of the
Lord Jesus because of Who He is—the Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Holy,
etc.—and know that He will take care of us and exalt Himself in the process (1 Peter 5:7). No matter
how far we fall, God will pardon us if we turn to Him in repentance and confession (1 John 1:9).
David’s transgression served as the impetus for the creation of Psalm 51, which has offered comfort
to countless Christians who are mourning their sin.
● Sin never feels satisfied (Genesis 4:7, 2 Samuel 12:6-9).
Sin is servitude to the things that resist God. By definition, a wicked lifestyle is one that is
constantly looking for more—more money, more pleasure, more ways to get away from reality, etc.
We find rich life in Jesus Christ as followers of His (John 4;14, 10:10). We shall never experience the
freedom of belonging to the Lord without faith in Jesus.
● God answers our prayers and comforts us (Psalm 51:12, 17).
David felt bad and realized he had wronged the Lord. If we approach God with a spirit of
repentance and complete confidence, we can be confident that He will not only pardon us but also
console us, as He did with David.
STORIES OF RESTORATION
GOD’S LAW
The guide for living a Christian life, God’s law, also illustrates restoration. God addresses all
facets of life in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1–17), directing man to remember Him (spiritual
health), promote healthy relationships (social health), and take time for both mental and physical rest.
In the book of Leviticus, he also offered a number of public health guidelines that are being followed
today, including food, pollution, early burial, quarantine, clean water supply, sewage disposal, and
personal hygiene. God refers to Himself as man’s healer and promises people who follow these
principles a life of tranquility, wholeness, and happiness:
If you pay close attention to the LORD, your God, and act in a way that pleases Him, if you do
what is right in His eyes, and if you
I promise not to bring upon you any of the diseases I visited upon the Egyptians if you obey all of his
commandments.
I, the LORD, am the one who cures you. (New International Version, Exodus 15:26).
THE STORY OF DANIEL
One may spot the topic of restoration in the well-known tale of Daniel and his three friends
having to decide whether to eat from the king’s table. Daniel made the decision not to consume the
royal food and drink, and he requested permission from the main official not to do so (Daniel 1:8, New
International Version). Ga’al, which is the Hebrew word for “defile,” can also mean “to pollute, stain, or
profane” (Strong, 2007). The language of the temple is defilement. The body was the temple of God
long before the apostle Paul stated that (1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 1 Corinthians 5:19,20; 2 Corinthians
6:16). Having been raised in the Jerusalem temple, Daniel and his three friends knew that God now
desired to reside in their hearts and bodies. They vowed to follow God and His rules in all facets of
their existence, and as a result, God bestowed upon them unrivaled physical health, wisdom, and
intelligence.
THE NEW COVENANT
God describes the new covenant He formed with His cherished people in Jeremiah 31:31–34.
This covenant’s wording reveals God’s strategy for bringing His people back to where He intended
them to be. God’s intention is to restore man’s right standing with Him by pardoning wrongdoing and
ceasing to recall transgressions (Hebrews 8:12). He delivers internal transformation by imprinting His
laws on their hearts and minds (Ezekiel 36:26,27). He wants to mend the relationship with His people
so that they can have a similarly intimate relationship with Him as Adam and Eve had before the fall.
RELEVANCE OF RESTORATION FOR A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE
The biblical idea of restoration places lifestyle modification in a larger context—one that
encompasses more than just illness prevention, greater health, and longer life. It also gives access to
a God who is bigger than the health problems that people are now facing, who generates fresh health
amidst pain, and who is constantly striving to fully restore His people in every aspect of life so that
they might spend eternity with Him. This
comprehending restoration is essential to understanding several historical (such as rationalism,
empiricism, and scholasticism) and modern (such as secularism, humanism, and New Age) views
creating a holistic and all-inclusive lifestyle medicine strategy.
CROSS-REFERENCES
(Joel 1:19-20) 19 To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames
have burned up all the trees of the field. 20 Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water<犀利士
br>have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.
(Joel 2:12-14)
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and
mourning.”
13 Rend your heart and not your garments Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and
compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink
offerings for the Lord your God.
Nebuchadnezzar Restored
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to
me, and I blessed the Highest, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.