5 Lessons We Learn from the Life of Jedidiah

Do you know the man in the Bible whose name is Jedidiah? Here’s your chance to know more about him as well as the essential lessons we need to learn from his life.

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Jedidiah is a name not known to many Christians. Well, this is understandable since this name is only mentioned once in the Bible. The name is found in II Samuel 12:25.

So, who is Jedidiah? What are the lessons we should learn from the events that surrounded his life? Most importantly, how can we apply these lessons in our lives?

In this post, let me share with you five of the best lessons we can learn from the life of Jedidiah.

Who is Jedidiah

Lesson no. 1: Who is Jedidiah?

Jedidiah is the name given by God to Solomon through the prophet Nathan. Jedidiah combines the name of David (Jedid, which means “beloved”) and the name of God (“Yah”). This gives us the full meaning of Jedidiah as “beloved or darling of Yah.”

David first gave his son the name Solomon, which means “the man of peace.” He regarded the birth of Solomon as a sign of God restoring peace in Israel, after the punishment he received due to his sin of adultery.

Moreover, God commanded Nathan to give Solomon a second name, Jedidiah. The Bible tells us why Solomon was given a second name “because of the LORD” and that the “LORD loved him” (II Samuel 12:24-25). The second name of Solomon indicates the favor he obtained from God. In the Middle East, the practice of giving a second name still exists.

Lesson no. 2: Sin comes with deadly consequences

We read the terrible sin of David that started with a simple lust. Though a king of Israel, David failed to rule his own lust and passion. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and planned the death of her husband, Uriah.

As what I wrote in my book, The Eleventh Chapter of Hebrews:

The Eleventh Chapter of Hebrews (Amazon)Sin can be so destructive. No matter how small a sin is, it comes with a penalty. Let us not deceive ourselves that we can escape the consequences of our sins. Time will come when “God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

No doubt: sin begets sin. A “small” sin, if left unrepented of, will become bigger and will lead to more undesirable consequences. In this case, David lost his first son to Bathsheba and trouble did not leave his family to the last day of his life.

Thus, we must deal with our sin right off the bat. In fact, we need to deal with sin while it isn’t conceived yet. When we do that, we avoid the terrible consequences of sin.

Lesson no. 3: God is the God of justice and mercy

By the human standard, David’s sin is unforgivable. However, when a person wholeheartedly repents of his sin and do his/her best to change, then God is ready to forgive.

We read the heartfelt and solemn repentance of David in Psalms 51. He did not give any excuse, but only presented the humble request for forgiveness. God heard David’s prayer and forgave him.

The reconciliation of God and David brought a sense of peace and comfort to David. Thus, the same comfort he gave to his wife, Bathsheba (II Samuel 12:21).

Lesson no. 4: God chastises us out of love

David just committed one of his greatest sins and the worst part of it is that he ignored it. He believed that he can get away with his sin and it took Nathan to bring this great sin to his attention.

Now, here is something that we should learn: when God corrects us, it is not because He hates us, but He wants us to stop sinning. God knows that when we keep on sinning, we will grow farther and farther away from Him. As Isaiah 59:2 says, our “iniquities have separated [us] from [our] God.”

 

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God loves us so much that He wants us to stop sinning. If it takes hurting, punishing, or chastising us to bring us to our senses, then God will most certainly do that.

David could have continued down the road of sin, but God wants him to change. Before God can work with David again, He needs to humble him first and that is exactly what the calamities in David’s life have accomplished.

We read in Hebrews 12:5-6:

“My son, do NOT despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

The Hebrew writer even went as far as arguing that if you don’t receive God’s chastening when you commit a mistake, you are considered to be an illegitimate son.

Therefore, when you fall into various trials, remember the words of James, whose real name is Jacob, in James 1:2-3:

“My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

Lesson no. 5: God can use the bad to fulfill His purpose

God knows that we are but human. With all our human weaknesses and fragility, it is just a matter of time when we commit a mistake.

God gives us free will and allows us to make decisions for ourselves and sometimes, those decisions lead to deadly consequences. God knows our nature and would like to teach us lessons. Sometimes, He allows bad things to happen so we can grow spiritually.

While it is true that David sinned by having an affair with a married woman, God still used this incident to fulfill His promise that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David. Solomon continued the lineage of his father that led to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, what does this tell us? It tells us that God can use imperfect people to fulfill his purpose and establish His word. Jesus Christ was born of sinful human beings and will save the world through His perfect sacrifice.

Final Words

These are just some of the important lessons we can learn from the life of Jedidiah. Let us remember all these lessons and strive to apply them in our lives. If you have other things to share, I’d love to hear them through the comment box below. Please remember to share this blog if it has blessed you in any way. 🙂

Until He comes,

Joshua


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