A Mess

Michael, aka Big Bubba
Timothy aka Other Bubba
(pronouced utter bubba)
Marcus aka Baby Brother



My baby brother &
a few of his favorite toys.

1977
 My family and I had moved to Tioga, Louisiana where my dad was pastoring Alpine Assembly of God. All 6 of us were living in a 2 bedroom house which meant the dining room doubled as a bedroom for my brothers. One day my oldest and youngest brothers, Michael and Marcus, had finished playing and it was time to put the toys away before supper. Being the older brother, Michael told Marcus he needed to help clean up. Marcus, who was always coming up with the funniest lines, replies with this. "Uh, uh, big bubba, the bible says he that maketh a mess shall not have to clean it up!" That verse can be found in the Book of Marcus, which we quote faithfully in our family. Even my daughter and son-in-law have their version, he that cooks does not have to clean up! (I’m not adopting that translation for fear I might have to do one or the other!)

Can’t find that in your bible? Try Romans 3:23 & 26. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. … and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” Everyone has made a mess, but God has made us right! Nothing we can do for ourselves.

A few years ago I was reading through familiar verses in the Old Testament and came across this verse in 2 Samuel. “Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child.” (2 Samuel 12:24 NLT)

I don’t remember this part of the story from Sunday school. David slaying the bear, David killing the giant, David running from King Saul; those are the stories I remember on the flannel board. Maybe it was that this story usually required the “G” rated version. You don’t put lust, adultery, deceit and murder on the flannel board! As a teenager, we learned the “PG” version of story and studied Psalm 51 learning that this was written after the death of the son conceived with Bathsheba. We learned that it was his contrite heart that God loved. We saw his deep remorse and the high price that he paid for his sin. But I think I must have not been listening the Sunday we learned that Solomon was the son David and Bathsheba conceived after the death of the child they had conceived in sin! Solomon, the wisest man on the face of the earth, the one who rebuilt the temple of Lord, the king who ruled over Israel for more than 40 years of peace. This man was the result of the union of David and Bathsheba.

“During the lifetime of Solomon, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety …God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else … His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. …And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon. (I Kings 4:24,29-30 NLT)

That's redemption -one more piece of evidence that God is the only one capable of cleaning up our messes. We as David only make things worse when we try to clean them up. So what do we learn about God from David‘s most humiliating experience? I think it’s two things, obedience and a repentant heart when we fail. When David was selected as King, God said “He will do everything I want him to do”. (Acts 13:22 NLT). In Psalm 51, we see the broken and repentant heart of a man who had failed to live up to God’s expectation. “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:17)

Going back to the Book of Marcus, maybe we could say it this way, he that maketh a mess can not clean it up. And I would add, but God helps those who cry to him in repentance. David said it this way in Psalm 107, Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.”

Got a mess? Been the fool? Join me in crying out, Lord, help!

Thanks for listening

See you next Sunday,

Ronda