Psalm 51<\/a>.)<\/p>\nIn reply, Nathan said, \u201cThe LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD, the son born to you will die\u201d (2 Samuel 12:13\u201314 NIV11).<\/p>\n
In the verses that follow, we read how the Lord struck down the child conceived in adultery, and, despite David\u2019s pleas, the baby died.<\/p>\n
It is after this that we read that David and Bathsheba then had another child, Solomon, and it was this child that the Lord loved and named Jedidiah. How remarkable!<\/p>\n
It is true that David\u2019s sin brought lasting damage on his household and tarnished his legacy. And it is true that both Uriah and the illegitimate child of David and Bathsheba died as a result of his sin.<\/p>\n
It is also true that Solomon fell headlong into sexual sin himself, more than any king in Israel\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
But that was not his destiny from birth. It was his own sinful choice.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because, despite the terrible sin of David, Solomon\u2019s father, God saw David\u2019s deep repentance to the point that He set His love on Solomon from birth. He even sent the prophet Nathan \u2013 the same man who rebuked David \u2013 to tell the king of His love for the child. To say it again: How remarkable!<\/p>\n
The lesson for us is that even after our worst, most regrettable sins, if we truly humble ourselves and repent, if we get low and accept the consequence of our misdeeds, we can encounter the love of God afresh.<\/p>\n
In this case, it would seem that the Lord wanted to let David and Bathsheba know that He had forgiven him\/them, hence the naming of their child, removing the stain of guilt. He even wanted them to know that He would bless them from here on \u2014 this is almost inconceivable \u2014 to the point that Solomon was the one chosen to be David\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n
Not only so, but if Solomon had remained faithful, the line of David would have become known as the line of Solomon as well. What love!<\/p>\n
To be sure, it\u2019s so much better if we don\u2019t commit grievous sins against the Lord and against others. Our sins can really harm innocent people, not to mention ourselves.<\/p>\n
And yet, God is a redeemer, filled with love beyond anything we can imagine \u2014 think of the cross! \u2014 to the point that a child born to a couple that itself was the fruit of adultery can be named Jedidiah, loved by Yahweh. How remarkable!<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s still more to the story.<\/p>\n
Perhaps you yourself are a Jedidiah. Perhaps you yourself were the product of sin. (I immediately think of two great Christian leaders, one male and one female, both of whom were conceived in rape.)<\/p>\n
Perhaps the origins of your life or ministry or family can be traced back to a sinful union or unfortunate event. And perhaps, to this day, you feel a stigma or shame over your life or work.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, as you submit your life afresh to Him,\u00a0 the Lord, in His love, will rename you Jedidiah as well.<\/p>\n