God’s Providence Session 16 - Confrontation

The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying God's providence or divine providence in the lives of David and Joseph and how we can apply His providence in their lives to our lives today.

The providence of God or divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. Divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. He is sovereign over the universe. He is in control of the physical world. He is in control of the affairs of nations. He is in control of human destiny. He is in control of human successes and failures. He protects His people.

In Session 16 we follow up on what happens after David used his position as the king to take and commit adultery with a married women and covers it up by orchestrating his death. We talk about the guilt that he must have struggled with until God caused him to be confronted by a friend. In this session we talk about the way that God wants us to confront sin.

For our study we will be using Great Lives: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny, by Charles R. Swindoll, and The Hand of God by Alistair Begg. To study along with us you can purchase the books by clicking the Links here or the images after the notes.

The providence of God or divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. Divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. He is sovereign over the universe as a whole, He is in control of the physical world, He is in control of the affairs of nations, He’s in control of human destiny, He’s in control of human successes and failures, He protects His people.  Through divine providence God accomplishes His will. 

David was unaccountable, he was the king.  Who was going to oppose him?  The same thing happens to us when we feel that we can do whatever we want because of our position is a family or and organization. 

So he used his position to first commit adultery then when he learned that Bathsheba was pregnant he used his authority to call her husband in front war so he could sleep with her and the pregnancy attributed to him.  When Uriah wouldn't cooperate and go home David again used his authority to have him assigned to a place on the battlefield where he would be killed.   It worked so now problem solved right?  

David, the great man of God, committed a series of terrible sins that to terrible consequences. When he was about fifty years of age, he committed adultery. Then, rather than immediately face it and admit it, he covered it up with premeditated murder. For the better part of a year, he lived a life of hypocrisy and deception.  His world became a world of guarded, miserable secrecy.

The only people that knew were David, Bathsheba, Joab the military leader and maybe a servant or two.  But he forgot about God 

2 Samuel 11:26‭-‬27 NIV When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.

We need to remember that, like many sins, David’s were carried out secretly—at least for a while.The acts of David were done willfully. This was not a momentary mistake. He didn’t stumble into the sin. He willfully and knowingly walked into the sin with Bathsheba, orchestrated the death of her husband and deliberately lived a lie during the months that followed.

Maybe nobody else noticed, but God did. And He designed a strategy to bring David to his knees. God is awfully good at that. He doesn’t settle His accounts at the end of each month or, for that matter, each year. But when He does settle them, well,

Galatians 6:7‭-‬8 NIV Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

 “God’s wheels grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine.”

Most people think that Psalm 51 was written as a result of his sins around his adultery with Bathsheba 

Psalms 51:1‭-‬17 NIV Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Psalm 32 may also have been written with the event in mind. Remember what I said last week about the guilt associated with unconfessed sin.  The guilt will make you miserable.  Let’s read some on Psalm 32.

Psalms 32:1‭-‬5 NIV Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

In his splendid book, Guilt and Grace, Paul Tournier, the brilliant Swiss writer, physician, and psychiatrist, talks about two kinds of guilt: true guilt and false guilt. False guilt, says Tournier, brought onton by the judgments and suggestions of man. True guilt comes from willfully and knowingly disobeying God.36 Obviously, David is enduring true guilt.

From my blog post "Leave the Guilt Baggage Behind"

Not all guilt is bad. As a matter of fact, there is some guilt that is good. In fact, my mom would argue that if guilt causes obedience, it should be considered a virtue!

Good guilt is actually godly sorrow which leads us back to the way of salvation. Someone once said that guilt is like a red warning light on the dashboard of a car. Those red lights on the dashboard are good things; they indicate that something needs to be fixed to prevent long-term expensive damage. The same is true with some of the guilt we feel. If we allow the guilt to speak to our hearts in a positive way and cause us to correct things in our lives that we know are not pleasing to God, then that’s a good thing. Dealing with an issue quickly prevents long-term, expensive damage in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones.

“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

As Christians, we are always called to turn away from sin and toward God to become more of what He wants us to be. If certain kinds of guilt cause this result, then it’s a good thing, like the red light on the dashboard of the car.

Bad guilt consumes us and separates us from God. Notice in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that there is another type of guilt called worldly sorrow. This verse says the result of worldly sorrow is spiritual death, which means being cut off from God. Worldly sorrow is what I call evil sorrow. It causes all sorts of terrible things in our lives. For instance, it causes us to:

Live in fear

Lose our joy

Hold onto the pain of our past

Be blocked from receiving future blessings.

God’s timing is absolutely incredible.

Some Old Testament scholars say that there was at least a twelve-month interval that passed before Nathan paid the visit. God waited until just the right time. He let the grinding wheels of sin do their full work and then He stepped in.

In confronting someone in his sin, the timing is as important as the wording. Simply to tighten your belt, grab your Bible and, at your convenience, confront a person who is in sin is unwise. Most importantly, you need to be sure that you’re sent by God. 

Galatians 6:1 NIV Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

God called on a person that David knew and trusted.  He sent Nathan. 

Rather than just coming out and confronting David by saying David you have sinned by committing adultery and then conspiring to have the husband killed.   You are going to hell.  Remember David is the king and that is a big accusation. 

So he told him a story. 

2 Samuel 12:1‭-‬4 NIV The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

Obviously, David didn't connect the story with himself because he wanted to punish the man.

2 Samuel 12:5‭-‬6 NIV David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

Then Nathan lowers the boom or better said David walked right into it.  

2 Samuel 12:7‭-‬9 NIV Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Busted!!!

Remember Nathan is a friend and we can take bad news or criticism better from someone that we know loves us. We may not like it but we take it better. 

Proverbs 27:6 NIV Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

If you are delivering a message you say is from God make sure that it is.

2 Samuel 12:7‭-‬12 NIV Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

Remember the last verse of chapter 11?

2 Samuel 11:27 NIV After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.

Here come the consequences of David’s sins.

2 Samuel 12:10‭-‬12 NIV Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

2 Samuel 12:13 NIV Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” …

If God has called you to be His messenger, then do it skillfully and do it humbly.  Do it right or don’t do it. If God calls you to be a confronter, confront. People still long for, hunger for the message of God. When you encounter an individual whohas willfully stepped onto the wrong path, face it with him. Call it what it is. Certainly At the right time and in the right way, but do it! Don’t hedge. Don’t try to redefine it. Don’t explain it away. Call it sin. And indoing so, remember that you, too, have sinned. So, stay humble and full of compassion . . . but speak the truth in love . . . yes speak the truth! A tremendous relief comes over the sinner when someone honestly says, “You have been wrong, face it. Do something about it.”

After Nathan confronted David and he confessed he received grace from God who said through Nathan that he wouldn't die because of his sin but there would be long lasting consequences. The first of which was the death of the child conceived in adultery, and there were others.

2 Samuel 12:11‭-‬12 NIV “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

I believe that a gush of relief swept across David as he thought, Finally, someone knows the truth and the secret is out. Finally, I have the assurance of God’s forgiveness. 

TWO SERIOUS AREAS OF APPLICATION

Effective Confrontation 

To be effective in confrontation we need to equip ourselves with four things. If not, we can do more damage than good.                

               

First, absolute truth. Don’t go on hearsay. Get the facts. It may take time. You may have to investigate.

                  

Out of love and concern you will do all that. You won’t investigate and spread the word all around; you’ll just check it out until you have the facts carefully recorded and correctly arranged. Without absolute truth, you’re shooting in the dark. Do not confront if you don’t have the truth.

               

Second, right timing. Many people are confronted at the wrong time and as a result are driven deeper into their wrong because thoughtless Christians went off in a hurry to do something in the spurt of emotion. Wait until you are confident that it’s God’s timing and do it privately.

                            

Third, wise wording.   The right words are crucial. If you don’t have your wording worked out, don’t go. Wait. 

Proverbs 25:11‭-‬12 NIV Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

Fourth, fearless courage. Don’t fear the loss of friendship. God honors the truth. After all, it is the truth—and only the truth—that sets people free. If the Lord is really in it, you’ll be one of the best friends this person ever had by telling him the truth. Be certain you’re confronting out of love. One who doesn’t love doesn’t confront—at least he doesn’t confront God’s way.

                  . .

The second has to do with genuine repentance.

There are four things in Psalm 51 that point to genuine repentance.  We will talk about that next week.

Bible Study Audio

God's Providence Session 15 - Extending Grace before a Terrible Mistake and Coverup

The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is studying God's providence or divine providence in the lives of David and Joseph and how we can apply His providence in their lives to our lives today.

The providence of God or divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. Divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. He is sovereign over the universe. He is in control of the physical world. He is in control of the affairs of nations. He is in control of human destiny. He is in control of human successes and failures. He protects His people.

In Session 15   we will talk briefly about an outstanding example of grace that David extended to someone just because….

Then after extending this amazing grace David's weakness for beautiful women causes him to sin and then cover it up. The cover up becomes much worse than the original sin.

For our study we will be using Great Lives: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny, by Charles R. Swindoll, and The Hand of God by Alistair Begg. To study along with us you can purchase the books by clicking the Links here or the images after the notes.

Last week we looked at God’s providence when He says no.   We talked about David’s desire to construct a temple to house the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem. From the time that the Israelites were in the wilderness God’s presence was symbolized as being above the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. 

David had subdued Israel's enemies the nation was at peace and was flourishing.  David had moved the tabernacle and the ark to Jerusalem so now was the perfect time to build a permanent place for God's presence.   David announced his decision to Nathan his prophet friend who told him to go for it.  

2 Samuel 7:1‭-‬3 NIV After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

That night God told Nathan to go back and tell David no.  

2 Samuel 7:5‭-‬7 NIV “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’

What we learned is that although we have a great idea for the kingdom of God it may not be God’s will that we be the person to accomplish it.  

David had a great idea but it was God’s plan for his son Soloman to accomplish it .

 It’s just not His plan for us to do this.  He may have something more in mind for us.  He told David thought the Nathan that He had more in mind for David than him just building a temple.  He was going to bless David beyond what he could even imagine.

2 Samuel 7:8‭-‬16 NIV “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

2 Chronicles 6:3‭-‬11 NIV While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David. For he said, ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, nor have I chosen anyone to be ruler over my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there, and I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’ “My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’ “The Lord has kept the promise he made. I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. There I have placed the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with the people of Israel.”

God says to him, “I commend you for that thought. I commend you for having a heart that is so sensitive to Me that you would want to construct a house of worship for My glory. It is well that it was in your heart. It’s not My plan for you to do that, but I commend you for such a thought.”

When God says “no” it is not necessarily discipline or rejection. It may simply be redirection. 

The thing we have to do in our walk with God is to listen carefully from day to day.  Don’t worry about what people, that you shared your idea with, when God says no to you.

Lord, is this Your arrangement? Is this Your plan? If it is not, make sensitive to it

God does not call everybody to build temples. 

That is the role of spiritual gifts in the church.  God has different people do different things.  They are in different roles but God’s purpose is to edify the church which is us.  

What we should be seeking is God’s long term plan for us not get stuck on that one no to what we thought was a great idea.  Thank God for showing us His final plan for us which is eternal life in His presence.  

To some, He says, “yes.” To others, “no.” In either case, the answer is best. Why? Because God’s answers, while surprising, are never wrong.

Help and support the one that God chooses. 

Extending Grace

This week we will talk briefly about an outstanding example of grace that David extended to someone just because….

Dictionary definition.  (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.  (dictionary.com)

2 Samuel 9:1‭-‬10 NIV   David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Before we move on let’s talk a little about where Mephibosheth was when David found him through Ziba.  He was in Lo Debar.  Lo-debar, interestingly, in Hebrew means “a barren place.” In English, the name of the place could be translated “no pastureland.” It’s as if the servant is saying that Jonathan’s son is living in a place of stark barrenness— a place where there are no crops, a wilderness . . . a wasteland.

What a scene! What grace! From that time on he was welcome at the king’s table of continual nourishment and uninterrupted provisions. Undeserving . . . yet unconditionally loved. Mephibosheth’s head must have swirled for days as he forced himself to believe his new situation wasn’t a dream.

     

Why did David want to show Mephibosheth lovingkindness? It wasn’t because of his relationship with the young man. In fact, he had no knowledge of Mephibosheth’s existence before Ziba told him of the man. David wanted to show grace to Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake. The crippled son did nothing to merit David’s notice. But David stooped in grace, offered him a place at the royal table, and restored to him all the riches he had lost.

David offering Mephibosheth a seat at his family table reminds us of our being accepted by God into His family.

As we look around the table, we’ll see so many faces Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Deborah, Peter, Mary, Martha,

 Paul, “Mrs. Gray-Haired Prayer Warrior,” “Mr. Missionary,” “Mr. Businessman,” “Mrs. Mother of Three,” “Miss Kindergarten Teacher”—the list will go on. But we will all come to the table by the same invitation—grace. It’s not what we did or didn’t do,

but what He gave. We’ll all sit at His table in awesome wonder that the King sent his beloved Son to rescue us from our “Lo-debar.” Together, the children of God who once felt so unworthy will spend eternity praising the One who made them worthy.

As we are gathered with the people of God at that great marriage feast of the Lamb, the tablecloth of His grace will cover all our disabilities and limitations.

The Big Coverup

The Bible never flatters its heroes. All the men and women of Scripture have feet of clay, and when the Holy Spirit paints a portrait of their lives, He’s a very realistic artist. He doesn’t ignore, deny, or overlook the dark side.

We are going to be talking about a very dark time of David’s life.  One in which he was completely guilty but he, in my opinion had two willing accomplices.  It is also an example of a major weakness of David we identified earlier.

David was a passionate man and that included a passion for women.  This was actually a weakness in David’s character which affected his reign and his legacy.  

2 Samuel 3:2‭-‬5 NIV Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

This is six children by six different wives. Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah. And that’s not counting Michal, daughter of Saul, who was his first wife who he had to, leave to stay alive.  That in itself is unbelievable to me.  It’s now so much the number of children it is the number of wives.  WHEW!!

That was just in Hebron David had more children and wives when he later went into Jerusalem and king over the entire nation. The only wives named in scripture are the six mentioned earlier and Bathsheba who we will talk about today. We know from scripture that he had more wives and also a number of concubines who also had children.  

2 Samuel 5:13‭-‬16 NIV After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David had a total of twenty sons and one daughter, Tamar.

So let’s get to what we want to talk about today.

David was now about fifty years old, perhaps a few years older. He had been on the throne approximately twenty years. He had distinguished himself as a man of God, as a valiant warrior on the battlefield, and as a leader of his people. We just talked about the fact that he was the one who took in Mephibosheth, keeping his promise to Jonathan and to Saul, demonstrating grace and showing honor.

However, David, as we all do, had some flaws and he sinned and the sin we are going to talk about today had devastating 

consequences for his family, his reign, and his nation. Sin always bears consequences. That’s why we’re to take heed lest we fall, no matter our age.  You never get too old to fall.

David didn’t fall suddenly; some chinks had already begun to form in his spiritual armor.

We talked about David having all these wives and concubines.  That in itself was a violation of God’s commandments for the king.

God said there were at least three things the king of Israel must not do: he must not multiply horses for himself or allow his people to return to Egypt to multiply horses; he must not multiply wives for himself; and he must not greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 

Deuteronomy 17:14‭-‬17 NIV When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

David was faithful in the first and the third; but being a man of passion, he failed in the second.

So what did this erosion of David’s integrity cause?

 It turned the heart of the king from the Lord. That’s what the Lord was warning about in Deuteronomy.  Second, because it made him vulnerable.

Our most difficult times are not when things are going hard. Hard times create dependent people. You don’t get proud when you’re dependent on God. 

Survival keeps you humble. Pride happens when everything is swinging in your direction, when you’re growing in prestige and fame and significance, that’s the time to watch out . . . especially if you’re unaccountable.

David was unaccountable, he was the king.  Who was going to oppose him?  The same thing happens to us when we feel that we can do whatever we want because of our position is a family or and organization. 

So, here’s what happens.  First thing is that David is in the wrong place.  His troops are out in battle and usually, in those days if a king was healthy, he was out with the troops, but David decided to sit this one out.

Perhaps he’s bored, maybe tired from writing some psalms, maybe he just can’t sleep.  It’s nighttime, we don’t know what time.  It’s springtime in Israel so David decides to go out on his patio.  

2 Samuel 11:2 NIV One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,

I like the way Chuck puts it;

He walked around on the roof of the king’s house. This is a large home, and he’s enjoying the scenes and sights. Then, in the distance, he hears some splashing and perhaps the humming on the lips of this very beautiful woman living just beyond the palace, just within clear sight of his own backyard.

 

The Bible says that she was very beautiful and when the bible says very it means very.  So she was a knockout.

When David saw her, we already know that he likes women, the lust arouse in him and he acted.  

2 Samuel 11:3‭-‬4 NIV and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home.

Let’s not put all the blame on David.  We’ve often heard that “it takes two to tango”, and the Bible, which is not afraid to call it like it is never said that Bathsheba resisted, and it doesn’t say she was raped.  

We need to be very careful when we lust, it doesn’t have to the a sexual encounter like this was.  

Lust is an intense craving or longing.   It could be for money, a house, a car, power, recognition, any number of things.  In David’s case he wanted this woman even though he was told that she was married.

The point is be wary of an intense longing for anything because getting it may bring with it problems or issues you did not consider.  In David’s case the woman got pregnant.  Here come the consequences of our action.  We may have enjoyed it but now we must pay the cost.

Now comes the coverup.

David panics. He could come clean, confess and deal with the consequences, or try to cover it up.  We know that if we confess God will forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.  Doesn’t mean there are no consequences but it’s best to let God determine the consequences early on.  We’ve heard the phrase keep short accounts meaning when you are convicted of sin deal with it immediately.

1 John 1:9‭-‬10 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

David decides not to do that.  He trys to cover it up so nobody other than he Bathsheba and some servants really know the truth.  He forgot that God knew.  

When we panic and don’t seek God we make very poor decisions.

The first thing that he does is summon Bathsheba’s husband who has been to war and so he figures that Uriah would relish this time back home with his wife.  They would sleep together and walla she’s pregnant and it must be Uriah’s problem solved.

2 Samuel 11:6‭-‬8 NIV So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.

Uriah has other ideas.  Uriah is a faithful soldier whose heart is with the men in the field. And if his men are out in the field, then he is not going to seek the comfort of his own wife and home.

Now David has a problem  

2 Samuel 11:9‭-‬13 NIV But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house. David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?” Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my Lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.

His coverup plans are not working because Uriah is not cooperating.  The king can’t just take another man’s wife because it looks too bad so the next best thing, in David’s mind is to get rid of the husband.   The coverup is not in full force.  

2 Samuel 11:14‭-‬15 NIV In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”

2 Samuel 11:14‭-‬20‭, ‬22‭-‬25 NIV In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died. Joab sent David a full account of the battle. He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate. Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.” David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab.”

Now there is somebody else involved who also knows what you have done about Uriah.  Joab now knows and could use that against David. David’s coverup not only cost Uriah’s life but also other lives.  

Problem solved.  Uriah’s dead bring in the beautiful lady. She marrys the king they have a son everything is peach right?

2 Samuel 11:26‭-‬27 NIV When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. 

That’s the bottom line “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

Are you keeping count of David’s sins? Lust, adultery, hypocrisy, murder. How could man—a man after God’s own heart—fall to such a level? If you are honest about your own heart, it’s not hard to understand.

               

If you are playing with sins of the flesh, you’re living on borrowed time as a child of God. There is nothing as stinging, there’s nothing as damning to life, than hidden sins of the flesh. The guilt is always there even if no other human knows.  

David describes his guilt

Psalms 32:3‭-‬4 NIV When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Psalms 51:3‭-‬4 NIV For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Even though he is dealing with guilt David thinks he has gotten away with it but that’s not the end of the story and we will talk about that next week.  

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