“The Right Thing to Do”

Meditation for July 15, 2012

      “King Herod heard of Him, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’

     But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her.

     For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard John, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.

       But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter, named after her mother Herodias, came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’

      And Herod solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’

     So Herodias went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’

     Her mother replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’

      Immediately, the daughter rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’

       The king was deeply grieved.  Yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then Herodias gave it to her mother.

     When his disciples heard what had happened, they came and took John the Baptist’s body, and laid it in a tomb.” (Mark 6:14-29)

***

     David, the boy who killed Goliath with a slingshot, became king of Israel.  He grew to be a man after God’s own heart—divinely chosen for great things. 

   And then one afternoon, he rose from his couch and took a stroll on the flat roof of his royal palace.

   Looking down, he saw the beautiful Bathsheba. He wanted her.

   But she was already married.

   Her husband, Uriah the Hittite, was one of David’s officers in his army.  He was off battling for the kingdom while the king couldn’t stop thinking about his wife.    

   He sent for her. Then, he lay with her.

   She got pregnant and David did what he could to cover up their sin.

   He sent for Uriah and made polite conversation, asking,

   “How is the war going? How are the troops?”   

   Then he told Uriah to go down to his house and bathe his feet. He would send him a present.  David wanted him to go home and sleep with his wife so Uriah could be tricked into believing that he was the father of David and Bathsheba’s baby.

     But Uriah didn’t go home.  He slept at the entrance to the palace with the other officers.

    When David asked him why, Uriah answered, “How can I go home and eat and drink and sleep with my wife when my master Joab and Your Majesty’s men are camped in the open? As you live, by your very life, I will not do this!”

      So David tried again to cover up his sin.  He coaxed Uriah to drink with him; then he sent him home drunk.

    But Uriah didn’t go home. He again slept at the palace entrance. 

    David tried a third time to cover up his sin.  He wrote a letter to Joab asking him to place Uriah on the front line where the fighting was the fiercest.

    Joab did what David requested. Uriah was killed in battle.

    When Bathsheba’s period of mourning ended, David sent for her to be his wife.

     The Lord was displeased with David, just as He is saddened when we fall into sin, seeking to satisfy our own wishes, without thinking how we may hurt others.  How we may hurt God.

    The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David.

    At first, the king was angry.  But then, he was ashamed. Deep down, he was still a man after God’s own heart.

   He repented, though it meant his reign would be forever marked by his sin with Bathsheba.

   “I stand guilty before the Lord,” he confessed, accepting the consequences. 

    It was the right thing to do.

***

   We hear about another sinful king of Israel in today’s gospel reading.  

   Herod of Antipas wanted the beautiful Herodias. He took her and married her, though she was his brother Philip’s wife.

   John the Baptist confronted him. It was illegal and immoral.  It was sin.

   Now Herod had great ambitions. He wanted to restore the Temple to its former splendor and be forever remembered as the most righteous king of Israel.

   John’s words disturbed him. He believed John the Baptist was truly a righteous and holy man.  He was drawn to him, but feared him, too. He tried and failed to protect him.

    At his birthday party, his lovely daughter enticed him into publicly bragging that he would give her anything. She requested John’s head.

    Herod was sorry to kill John, but it grieved him more to commit political suicide.

    He was haunted by his decision. So when he heard about Jesus—his miracles and his message—he was convinced John the Baptist had risen from the dead.

   Herod knew what he had done was not the right thing to do. 

***

   We can learn from these two men of the Bible. Both struggled with sin.  But only David is remembered as righteous, despite his many weaknesses. Only David found the courage and humility to repent and turn back to the Lord when confronted with his sin.

   Friends, the Bible tells us we are all sinners.  And every sin of thought, word and deed would condemn us if God had not provided us with a Savior.

   Christ’s death paid the price for all the sins of the world. He took the punishment we deserved. Our faith and not our good works has made us right with God. We have the assurance of eternal life with Him.

    But, sometimes, longtime Christians, those who have heard the Good News many times, may take God’s forgiveness for granted. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ no longer moves them to gratitude. May it never be so with us!

    Let us never presume that God’s unconditional love is a green light to keep on doing what we know is wrong. God has given us His Spirit to show us the righteous way He wants us to live. The Spirit reveals our sin to us and gives us the power to turn away from it.

     David’s story reminds us that it doesn’t work when we try to cover up our sins or hide from God—we end up sinning even more.

      Friends, seek the Lord when you realize you have fallen into sin. You will know when you have fallen because you will lose your peace.

    Do not fear that God will reject or abandon you. God loves you!

    Trust that He will forgive you and grant you the courage and humility to turn away from any sin.

     He will give you the strength to do the right thing.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you alone are righteous and holy!  We confess that sometimes we don’t want to do the right thing.  Forgive us when we have fallen into sin and told ourselves that we don’t need to repent—because you love us and have forgiven us, anyway.  Give us hearts of gratitude for what you have done for us through the sacrifice of your only Son.  Humble us and help us be your faithful servants, turning away from sin and turning towards You for strength and purpose.  Guide us to the righteous path.  In Christ we pray.  Amen.