DAILY TEXT, Sunday, September 27, 2026. I have sinned against the Lord (2 Sam. 12:13).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day

Sunday, September 27, 2026

I have sinned against the Lord (2 Sam. 12:13).

King David committed a very serious sin. But when Nathan went to talk to him about what he had done, David humbled himself and repented (Ps. 51:3, 4, 17, heading). King Hezekiah also sinned against Jehovah (2 Chron. 32:25). Like David, Hezekiah humbled himself and repented (2 Chron. 32:26). And Jehovah, taking stock of his life, considered him a faithful king. The Bible says: “He did what was right in Jehovah’s eyes” (2 Kings 18:3).

What do we learn? That we must repent of our sins and do all we can to avoid repeating them. What if the elders correct us, even about something that seems insignificant to us? We should not think that we have lost Jehovah’s approval or that the elders look upon us with ill will. After all, even the good kings of Israel needed counsel and correction (Heb. 12:6). So, if we are corrected, what should we do? (1) React with humility, (2) make the necessary changes, and (3) continue serving Jehovah wholeheartedly. If we repent of our sins, Jehovah will forgive us (2 Cor. 7:9, 11). w24.07 21 par. 8; 22 pars. 9, 11

How did Kings David and Hezekiah react when they were corrected?

As we saw earlier, King David committed a very serious sin. But when Nathan went to talk to him about what he had done, David was humble and repented (2 Sam. 12:13). The words he wrote in Psalm 51 show that he was truly repentant. He did not pretend to be repentant to please Nathan or to avoid punishment (Ps. 51:3, 4, 17, heading).

King Hezekiah also sinned against Jehovah. The Bible says that “his heart became arrogant, provoking God to be angry with him and with Judah and Jerusalem” (2 Chron. 32:25). Why did he become proud? Perhaps because Jehovah had made him rich, because he had helped him defeat the Assyrians, or because he had healed him of a deadly disease. Maybe it was that pride that motivated him to boast to the Babylonians about his riches. As a result, the prophet Isaiah had to correct him (2 Kings 20:12-18). Like David, Hezekiah humbled himself and repented (2 Chron. 32:26). And Jehovah, taking stock of his life, considered him a faithful king. The Bible says: “He did what was good in Jehovah’s eyes” (2 Kings 18:3).

What did King Amaziah do when he was corrected?

In contrast, King Amaziah of Judah did what was right, “but not with a complete heart” (2 Chron. 25:2). Where did he go wrong? After Jehovah helped him defeat the Edomites, Amaziah began worshiping their gods. Then, when a prophet of Jehovah came to correct him, the king became stubborn and refused to listen (2 Chron. 25:14-16).

What was the main difference between faithful kings and unfaithful kings?

The kings whom Jehovah considered faithful practiced pure worship and encouraged others to do the same. It is true that they sometimes made mistakes, as we have seen. But they worshipped Jehovah exclusively and fought with all their might to eliminate idolatry from the nation.

All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania JW.ORG.