Rape and incest are unfathomably wicked acts of violence and violation that deserve our moral revulsion against the perpetrator and our deepest compassion for the victim. And children are indeed conceived in a very small percentage of rape and incest cases. But this child, painful though the circumstances may be, has done nothing wrong, and perpetuating another act of violence against an innocent victim is not the solution. The fact remains that how someone was conceived does not determine who he or she is. We know this intuitively, given that no one would advocate killing a child already born based upon the way he or she was conceived. We should also remember that there are many couples who are willing and eager to adopt children in such a situation.
Justin Taylor

Bible Reading: APR04: II Samuel 8-11

APRIL 4

David had loved Jonathan with a supernatural love. Jonathan
was dead, but David had not forgotten his many kindnesses. Now that
he is established as king over all Israel, he wants to show kindness
to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth.

The story of David and Mephibosheth reveals the Gospel in a
beautiful way. Mephibosheth is a type of the sinner and the
condition in which he is in. He was helpless, being lame on both
feet. He could not come to David by his own strength, but had to be
carried into the king’s presence. The sinner cannot help himself; he
cannot save himself. And just as David wanted to help Mephibosheth
“for Jonathan’s sake,” God has manifested His love and grace toward
us “for Jesus’ sake.” We are nothing except for the grace of God.
Every one of us deserves hell. But “for Christ’s sake” God has
provided salvation for all who believe. Romans 10:13 tells us, “For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Chapter 11 proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that the
Bible is the Word of God. If man had written the Bible, he would
never have recorded this dark and terrible part of David’s life.

David was not a passionate youth who deliberately walked
into this sin. Rather, he was a man of God who had now reached
middle-age. If you will read these verses carefully, you will see
how David got involved with Bathsheba. First, he was self-confident,
after enjoying victories and prosperity. Second, he was disobedient,
staying at home when he should have been on the battlefield. Third,
he was idle, lying in bed in the evening. Fourth, he was self-
indulgent, giving freedom to his desires when he should have been
disciplining himself. Fifth, he was careless, allowing his eyes to
wander and yielding to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes. James 1:13-15 perfectly describes David’s case. His desires
were activated by the sight, and he failed to curb them. The desire
conceived the sin in his mind; his will surrendered, and this led to
sin. The sin later led to death. David did not watch and pray as
Matthew 26:41 commands; nor did he deal decisively with his
wandering eyes (Matthew 5:29 and 18:9).