David's Experience with Child Loss - Part 2

Training for Today: Rest

Devotion: David's Experience with Child Loss - Part 2

We ended our visit to David’s experience with child loss when Nathan had just told David that the son born to him would die. The story continues like this:


“After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them” (2 Samuel 12:15-17).

When I first read these verses, the sentence that really hit me was “David pleaded with God for the child.” Wow, do I remember those moments with God. To plead with someone is to cry out to them, beg them, to offer arguments and emotional appeals. In many cases, pleading occurs when a decision has already been made against you. But, was God really against you after your child’s final heartbeat?

In response to this question, let’s read Hebrews 12:5-7: “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punished everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.”

Dear child of God, rejoice in the Lord’s great love for you! It’s easy to forget amidst pain and pleading that the Lord works all things out for our eternal good (Romans 8:28), not simply for our earthly good. Besides, God knows what it is to plead! You were previously struck by your sin, with no defense. The decision had been made. But God’s only Son came to earth for you, died on the cross, and rose again to plead your case! Through Jesus, we are declared innocent. The victory has been won!

Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for pleading my case and the case of my child who is with you in heaven. When I recall those moments of pleading with you for my child’s earthly life, remind me of the earthly life, death, and resurrection of your Son! Amen.