Peace Through Confession

Peace through Confession

(2 Samuel 12:1-25)

Yearly Theme:  “Peace is…”

Series Title:  “Peace in the Promised Land”

March 28^th, 2021

Something to think about:

A picture on a postcard shows two goldfish in a bowl.  One is whistling and looking outward.  The other says, “Don't pretend you didn’t do anything.  I can see the bubbles!”

It’s been said that confession is good for the soul, and it’s quite right.  There is something about coming clean with the mistakes you’ve made, the problems you’ve caused, and the pain and frustration that has resulted from sinful, selfish desires and actions.  But how does confession lead to peace?

Confession leads to peace by way of releasing a person from the burden of carrying the weight of their sin.  When we confess our sins not only to God, but also to one another (as is Biblical), a weight often lifts off of the guilty person allowing them not to hide anymore.  When a person confesses their sin/wrong-doing, the cover-ups and lies lose their power over the person and the situation.  When a person confesses, then, and only then, can they begin the journey to restoration, healing, and reconciliation with God and others, and this leads to peace.

We come to a famous story of confession in the Old Testament book of Second Samuel, where the prophet Nathan confronts King David about his sin of adultery and murder (something David thought he had gotten away with).  The following is the result of the confrontation that led to confession which led to forgiveness, which then led to peace.  Let’s pick up the story in Second Samuel chapter twelve today:

Open your Bible and read:  2 Samuel 12:1-25

The take-away this morning is this…

Key Point:  “Confession of sin allows peace to take root in a person’s life.”

How did this play out in David’s life at this particular point in his life?  The same way it often does in our lives today.  Let’s take a look…

•  leads to  .

2 Samuel 12:5-7 (NLT), ⁵  David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! ⁶  He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”

⁷  Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!

•  leads to  .

2 Samuel 12:13a (NLT), Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

•  leads to forgiveness.

2 Samuel 12:13b (NLT), Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.

•  have  .

2 Samuel 12:14 (NLT), Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the LORD by doing this, your child will die.”

•  leads to  .

2 Samuel 12:22-25 (NLT), ²²  David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ ²³  But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

²⁴  Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child ²⁵  and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the LORD”), as the LORD had commanded.

Something to take home:

It’s super embarrassing when we find out that we’ve been doing things the wrong way, but it’s even more embarrassing when we know we’ve been doing things the wrong way, and refuse to admit it. 

Confession requires humility and admitting that we are wrong.  Confession should happen before we’re found out by someone else.  It’s a lot easier to take ownership of our mistakes and sinful behavior on our own than it is to be found out and have to admit it because there’s no other way.  But oh, the freedom that comes to our souls when we release the burden of sin that has been weighing us down.

It’s time to stop going in the wrong direction.  It’s time to come clean today with the sin that so easily entangles and trips us up.  It’s time to be set free from that which holds us in bondage, the sin that weighs us down so that we can experience the peace of God that passes understanding.

Key Point:  “Confession of sin allows peace to take root in a person’s life.”