David was floored
I had this thought jump into my mind. When God restores someone, he floors them. David has the most remarkable repentance of a sin many of us will never commit (in the literal sense). Why? Not many of us will become kings where we could give a command to have the husband positioned in battle in such a way that he will be killed. All to cover up David’s adulterous act with this man’s wife. [Read it here.] Not getting caught up in the details and implication of this story…they are immense and beyond a blog. Fast-forwarding to the restoration of David. Specifically to one particular part of David’s restoration.
A painful awakening
After Nathan rebuked him and David fessed up, David went to his house. “He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground“ (2 Sam. 12:16b). How many business negotiations do you see where the involved parties are lying on the ground? How many politicians deliberate with their faces on the ground? Or their faces facing the sky? In ancient times, before high powered weapons, how many warriors fought battles from a passive prostrate position on the ground? I can’t think of any either. Why? Lying on the ground is a vulnerable position that does not display strength.
Not like other kings
David was a powerful king. But his power was obtained much differently than the rest of the kings of the earth. His power was obtained through prostrating himself (literally and figuratively) before the Lord. David was a worshipper. The word worship means to “bow down”. It implies humbling one’s heart in submission to honor and glorify the one being worshipped. In the world’s system, greatness comes from rising up. Greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humbling one’s self before God. David knew he had screwed up. He knew where screwed up. [Read David's prayer of repentance here.] He got comfortable standing. When God wants to restore you to His presence, He will floor you. Get comfortable with the floor. It is God’s operating table. It is the people who can stay low to the ground long enough for God to do His thing that He can trust with power and authority. Floor me Lord!
