Rejecting God

Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him . . . 2 Samuel 12:24

I wrote yesterday that if we believe God is God, then we have little choice but to trust him – to exercise faith in him. Even in the face of terrible trials, if we believe God is real, then I suggested that following him is our only option. I may believe that’s the only logical conclusion, but in thinking about it further, it’s clearly not the only option. I can believe in God’s existence and still choose a very different path.

I remember watching a movie years ago in which the protagonist – who had been dealt a terrible hand in life – was chastised by a religious figure for his lack of belief. To this, the protagonist responded, “You got it all wrong, holy man. I absolutely believe in God, and I absolutely hate him.”

We can know God exists and yet choose not to follow him, resisting faith. This may be because we’re angry at God, or it may be more subtle than that. King David’s behavior illustrates this more subtle rejection of faith. In the story of David and Bathsheba, David followed his own will instead of God’s. His entire life he’d followed God’s plan for his life, but then he lusted after Bathsheba, impregnated her, and had her husband killed in the coverup. Clearly David believed in God, but in this instance, he didn’t live by faith but rather lived according to his own plan.

Through this event, David learned that he had options. Yes, he believed in God, but he had a continual choice to follow God or to follow himself. God made it clear that each choice came with its own set of consequences. David found that following his own way led to chaos and misery. In today’s passage though, as David repented and returned to following God, he found life, joy, and peace, despite life’s trials.

I know this to be true in my own life. I’ve never not believed in God, but I’ve lived according to my own plan, and I’ve lived by faith – following God’s plan. Like David, I’ve found that each choice comes with its own consequences. I can’t tell you the following God means no life trials – Not all trials are punishment for our failures and the righteous suffer like everyone else. I can tell you though, that following my way has led to misery and chaos, while following God has led only to life, joy, and peace, even during life’s trials.