2 Samuel: When God Says No 1e3nk

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12:13-21 In 2 Samuel 12:13, David heard the words he longed to hear more than any other words ... ”The LORD has taken away your sin; you shall not die.”  This statement is a display of the indescribable mercy of God.  But the next verse is a display of the holiness of God.  In order to demonstrate that sin carries consequences and that God is a God of justice, David heard the following words ... “However, because by this deed [adultery] you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die"  (2 Sam 12:14). When his son became ill, David prayed and fasted for 7 days, pleading with God for the life of his child.  But God did not answer his petition.  Or perhaps we should that God did answer David’s request and His answer was ‘no’.  Sometimes God says ‘no’ to our requests.  God said ‘no’ to Moses’ request to see His glory (Exod 33:18).  In profound discouragement and depression, both Elijah and Jonah prayed for God to take their lives and He refused (1 Kgs 19:4; Jonah 4:8).  Paul prayed for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh” and God said ‘no’ (2 Cor 12:7-9).  When God says no to our petitions, we must that His answer is good (because God is good) and right (because God is righteous) and wise (because God is omniscient).  For Christians, because they have escaped God’s wrath as His children, everything God does in their lives rises out of His love, even the pain He brings to their lives.  To understand these things is to learn to hope in God when He says ‘no’ and to live with greater contentment and peace.    1m2vf