2 Samuel 22:21
“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.”
David makes some interesting statements in his song to the LORD. To say that the LORD rewarded him “according to my righteousness” is a bold statement, but he doesn’t stop there. David continued to say in verse 22, “For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” Hold on! Didn’t David commit adultery with Bathsheba and have Uriah killed? How in the world could he say that he had not departed from God. He could say this because God forgave him and moved on from this horrible act. I believe you will find in this song some encouraging things of how the LORD rewards His children.
First, the LORD judges sin, but rewards righteousness. Just because David was a man after God’s own heart didn’t stop him from being judged for his sin, but God did not throw him aside and forget the good that he had done. Certainly, God will judge you for your sin, but you must always remember that He will reward you for your righteousness if you will do right. When you fall into sin, don’t stay in the mire of your sin, but move on and do right. God will still reward you for the right that you do if you will get up and continue to do right after you have done wrong.
Second, the LORD rewards direction more than He rewards position. You will notice that David said that he did not depart from the LORD’s ways. Yes, he stumbled, but he got up and kept going the same direction. God is very interested in your direction and will act accordingly. James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” When God sees that you are still coming His way, then He will continue to reward you by taking steps towards you. It is important that you always keep your direction headed towards God.
Third, the LORD rewards the heart and not the outward perception. God knew David’s heart, and that is why He continued to bless him. God knew that David was sorry for what he did and wanted to please Him, and that is why He rewarded him. What you put on in front of others is not what impresses God, but your heart is how He chooses to judge or reward. When your heart is pure before the LORD and truly desires to please Him, He will reward you for it.
Fourth, the LORD moves on from sin, but He remembers righteousness. This is what I love the most about God. I know I cannot be sinless, but I do know that God moves on and remembers the right that I do if I confess my sin to Him. Don’t let Satan trick you into believing that the LORD is going to hold you captive with your past. If you have properly dealt with your past, then God will move on; however, He will always remember the righteousness you have done. God will not throw your whole life into the spiritual trash bin just because you mess up. Deal with your sin and move on, and He will choose to remember the righteousness you have done.
Friend, this is a good formula for getting along with others. Deal with the bad and move on, but reward their direction and remember the good they have done. This is how you keep good relationships for a lifetime.