2 Samuel 11,12 A Mighty Man Falls

 

Intro: If you were to ask most people to name an event in the life of David there are 2 events that immediately come to most minds

A)One is his Heroic Victory over the Philistine Giant – Goliath which occurred almost 15 yrs before he became King over Israel

 

B) The other event that comes to people’s minds – is David’s sin of Adultery w/ BATHSHEBA – which occurred after he had been king for 20 yrs

 

C) The First was a high point in David’s celebrated life – It was a bold symbol of his Faith in God & love for God – Dependency upon the Lord

1)   The 2nd is a horrible reminder of how Far someone can fall – how easy it can be to give into to temptation.

 

D) The first could have been the DEFINING MARK of Israel’s greatest King –

1)   a great testimony to any unbeliever – of the Power of God working in the life of one  who trusts completely in the Lord

 

E) But instead the 2nd would be the Stain upon his life/ the thing he would be remembered the most for/ 3,000 yrs later

  1) Especially by those who Choose not to serve God

 

F) It is sad this would be the lasting mark of David’s Legacy in the eyes of many – one night / one moment of pleasure –followed by  Years of Pain

  1) But that too often is the Legacy of Sin

 

Today I want us to consider this story that we are all familiar w/ to a certain degree – but it is a Story that we can learn a lot from

A)As we consider this story I want us to view it in 6 Acts – like a Play

 

B)Act 1 The Conduct-  The Sin Act 2 The Cover up / Act 3 The Conviction  / Act 4 The Confrontation  / Act 5 The Confession – Grace is extended /

    Act 6 The Consequences /

Begin by setting the scene : David is now around 50 yrs old (Never too old ) – he has been the King of Israel for almost 20yrs

A)He has distinguished himself as a man of God / a composer of Beautiful Psalms / a Kind & Caring Shepherd – first of sheep now of God’s people

 

B) He has been a Valiant Warrior / but also a man of Compassion – saw in our last study – his kindness to Meph.

1) Israel has Flourished under his leadership – Many military Victories

   They enlarged their boundaries  60,000 sq. miles under his leadership

 

C) David’s approval rating would have been a strong 95-100%

1)    And personally the King was doing well – Nice new home / Rich / the people like him – everything seemed Perfect

 

D) But this picture of David’s life should be a reminder to us that we never arrive – never reach a place where – beyond temptation

    1) And in reality David had set himself up for this Horrible Fall

 

Lets consider the Conduct that led to David’s Failure: note 4 things

A)First 2 Samuel 5:13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.

 

B) Although this was the common practice of the Kings of other nations / it was something God had forbidden for the kings of Israel

  1) 3 Things they were forbidden to Multiply

Duet.17: 16But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ 17Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

 

C) It has been said that there are 3 things that can bring a man down –1st Money – Love of money is the root of all evil

2nd Power – Pride that comes from being in positions of Power

3rd Women – Lust { God’s Design – One wife / one Husband - ENOUGH

That is what these 3 things represent – Horses speaks of Power – in those days an army was judged by the size of it’s horses & Chariots

A)God didn’t want the Israel kings to stockpile horses & Chariots because he wanted their dependency to be upon him & not those things

 

B) God didn’t want the kings to stock pile gold & Silver so that they would continue to look to him as their Supplier

 

C) God didn’t want the Kings to Multiply wives for themselves – because he had instituted marriage as a Union between – one man & one woman

 

Now what is interesting about David is he didn’t multiply horses

A)2 Sam. 8 we are told that after a great victory he slew the horses

 

B) And David didn’t multiply silver & gold/  2 Samuel 8 again told after the Battle he took the silver & gold & dedicated it for the Construction of temple

1)   But David must have thought that 2 out of 3 isn’t Bad – because when it came to women – David had many

 

C) And because David ignored this command of the Lord he had a wandering eye { Where his problem begins

 

Job declared Ch.31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

A)Every man & woman should make such a Covenant – not look upon another person of opposite sex – in lustful way

 

B) When a person makes such a Covenant & something or someone is thrust in their face – Their immediate reaction is to turn away

1)   Focus on something else

 

C) But if a man doesn’t make such a Covenant w/ his eyes – he will be much more prone to fall in this area / to flirt w/ temptation rather than Flee

 

D)That was David’s problem – he had no such Covenant w/ his eyes & because he was multiplying wives & Concubines

1)   Every woman was a Potential target of his affections

 

E) So the first thing that we see in David’s conduct that led to his fall was he had no Covenant w/ his eyes –

1)Which resulted in his Ignoring God’s Command against Multiplying wives

 

2nd thing :David was not in the Battle Ch.11:1-5

A) In that part of the world, wars were not normally fought during the winter months because rains and cold weather

 

B) The winter conditions made travel and campaigning difficult. So In the spring, fighting would resume

1)   So it was time for Kings to go out to war but David stays home / this was a time when David should have been fighting – instead taking a break

 

C) We can make that same mistake spiritually – we can try to take a break from the Spiritual battle we are in { go on vacation from fighting }

1)   Problem is our enemy the devil never goes on vacation / he never takes a break / he is relentless in his attack

 

Something we need to understand is that our most VULNERABLE times are not when things are going hard

A)Hard times create  dependent people/ hard times cause us to pray & seek the Lord –

 

B) You don’t get proud when you are dependent on the Lord Survival keeps you humble

1)   But Pride happens when everything is going well / when life seems easy

 

C) We are not the most Vulnerable when we are working hard or hard at battle / but when we have some leisure / got time on our hands

1)   It has been rightfully said that Idleness is the devil's workshop !!!

Watch how the Devil sets David up for this Fall v.2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.

A)Notice it was evening time - & David was in bed – but he couldn’t sleep so arose from his bed – took a stroll on rooftop patio

 

B) The temptation is put in his way – I don’t think David was looking for a woman taking a bath – he was getting some fresh air

1)   Warning – what you do when you can’t sleep can be very dangerous

 

C) Where do you go – TV – the devil will allow you to see something you shouldn’t – that is the BAIT

1)   Go to the computer – that has been the down fall of many in man & women in the middle of the night – Man Porn / Woman Chat room

 

D) Satan is smart he knows that men are designed to be stimulated visually so guys he constantly throws things in our path – to tempt us

1)   He knows that w/ women it starts in the heart – the longing for attention for companionship – Chat room – starting point

 

E) The secret sin that causes her to begin to fantasize about a relationship that goes beyond that of her husband – happens all the time

1)    So often it starts by a decision that is made in the middle of the night when one can’t sleep { Pray / read / seek the Lord }

 

So David can’t sleep – he takes a stroll sees Bathsheba

A)But David’s sin was not in seeing Bathsheba but in choosing to look after the initial sight came before his eyes/ the 2nd look

 

B) A little side note & word to the women – Bathsheba is not totally innocent here / she was careless & foolish

1)    She was lacking in the usual Hebrew modesty or she would not have washed in a place where she could be looked upon

 

C) We live in an age where there is a constant bombardment toward sensuality in the media -

1) And Christian ladies You need to be an answer to the problem not a part of it !!!

 

D) You ladies need to guard your hearts from getting swept up in the looseness of the Fashions of our age

1)   Watch what you wear – not revealing / not drawing attention to yourself / lest someone else is tempted by your conduct

 

E) So I believe that both David & Bathsheba were at fault here – though the greater blame lies w/ David – He saw / He starred / he lusted / He took

1)     And it happened during a time when David should have been in the Battle but was not

 

3rd thing about his Conduct that led to David’s fall – David had no accountability – There was no one in his life who could say -….battle

A)That too can be a major problem – especially w/ those who struggle w/ certain temptations – { things from past – Need accountability

 

B) You need someone in your life who can say How are you doing in that area are you having  victory –

1) Need someone you can call to pray for you when the temptation is strong

 

C) I have counseled w/ too many people who have had major falls in an area of sin –

1)    Only to discover it was something they were tempted w/ for yrs but were too ashamed to tell anyone that it was a Struggle

 

D) What was really Sad is their major fall – happened during a time when God was really working in their life { Real growth / Opportunity for use

1)   It was then that Satan turned up the heat/ the pressure/ in that area that had been a secret sin or temptation for so long !!!! He is smart folks

                     

E) SO DAVID HAD   NO ACCOUNTABILITY

4th David didn’t heed the warning of his servant v.3 Who is she ?

Bathsheba the daughter of Eliam/ (Common ) adds the wife of Uriah

A)Again I think this is true that when Satan is trying to set us up for a fall – God will always give us a way of Escape – if we take it

 

B) 1 Cor.10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

 

C) Flee youthful lust – flee from temptation – Run –

1)    At that moment as soon as his servant said she was a married woman David should have fled – {He didn’t take the way of escape

 

D) David called for Bathsheba – They had relations / she became Pregnant

   Now what would David do? - 

 

Act 2 The Cover Up  2 Sam.11:6-25

A)David had two Choices at this moment – he could confess & repent or he could seek to cover up his Sin – He chose the Latter{Summarize

 

B) David calls for Uriah/  report on – How is the battle going – sends him home hoping he will have relations w/ his wife –

1) Uriah wouldn’t go - slept w/ the servants – Questioned v.11

 

C) David tries again next night by getting Uriah- drunk – but he still doesn’t go home –

 

D) So David writes a letter instructing his General Joab to put Uriah on the front lines of the battle in the fiercest part & then pull back

1)   Letter was sealed & given to Uriah to carry back to Joab

 

E) I wonder what Joab thought when he read that – David had been such a godly example – why would he do such a thing

     1) Joab was loyal to David – loyal to a fault – never questioning

So David in his attempt to Cover up his sin had Uriah killed and we are told in v.17 that some of David’s other men died too{ Murdered

A)When news comes back to Jerusalem – Bathsheba mourns & then David plays the hero in the eyes of the people – Weds the poor Widow

 

B) Cover up Complete – Everything seemed fine – Very few knew of David’s sin – But the Problem was David Knew & God Knew !!!

 

Act 3 The Conviction  Psa. 32

A)It was there in Psa 32 that David revealed what was going on in his heart at the time

Psa.32: 3When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

     My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.

 

NLT When I refused to confess my sin ,I was weak and miserable,& I groaned all day long. Day & night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

     My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

 

B) David is plagued by the guilt of his sin & he can’t escape it – for 9 long months he is living in agony

1)   Time of great drought spiritually – One puritan commentator put it this way – “All the moisture of heaven had lapsed into drought Everything was dry & barren in his soul”

 

C) That is the problem w/ unconfessed sin – it takes the life / the Vitality right out of You

1)   David’s secret sin was killing him / Whom the Lord loves He chastens & he wasn’t going to let David rest until this was dealt w/

 

 

Act 4 The Confrontation  Rd 2 Sam. 12:1-7 {Summarize Story

A)Notice David’s reaction v.5 surely die – Over reaction big time / sign of his Guilt / The law stated that restitution 10 fold was in order – not death

 

B) Good illustration of how prone we are to come down harder on those who are guilty of doing the same sins we are struggling w/

1)   That is what David is doing here – Until he hears Nathan say –YOU ARE THE MAN !!!!!  David is suddenly face to face w/ his sin !!!

 

 

 Act 5 The Confession 2 Sam.12:13

A)It is here after 9 months that David finally confesses his sin & you know what – God forgave him instantly

 

Psa 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight

 

B) David saw his sin w/ the right perception – Against God first & foremost

1)David was a head of his time in asking for mercy – a whole another study

 

C) In Psa 32 David talks about the Blessing of being forgiven

 

Psa 32: Blessed (Oh HOW HAPPY) is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, ' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

 

C) True repentance will involve Accountability

 

Psa 51: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Act 6 The Consequences 2 Sam. 12:8-12 / 14-23

A)This is something that we really need to see is that although forgiveness was granted – the Consequences of sin remained

 

B) The Child conceived in sin was going to die & there would be turmoil in David’s house the rest of his days

1) Meyer One brief spell of passionate indulgence & then his character blasted irretrievably; his peace vanished;& the foundations of his kingdom was weakened

 

C) God is quick to forgive but there are always consequences

1)   Reap what we Sow – Sow to the flesh reap Destruction

 

Nathan said v.14 that David actions gave the enemies of the Lord an occasion to Blasphemy – What enemies Knew about this ? SATAN

A)It has been my observation that the devil never tips his hand in temptation/ he shows only the Beauty / the thrill / the Ecstasy / the Fun

 

B) He never tells the heavy drinker – Tomorrow you will have a Hangover

     & ultimately, you will ruin your life & your family

1)   He never tells the drug user this is the beginning of a long sorrowful dead end road

 

C) He never tells the thief you are going to get caught & locked up

1)    He doesn’t warn the Adulterer that Pregnancy is a real possibility and that contracting a STD is likely

 

D) When the sin is done & all the penalties of that sin are do the Devil is no where to be found -  

 

It is amazing how in this day & age the word of God is so easily ignored the Church has been desensitized by the world –

A)Adultery an affair / Fornication is fooling around / and as a result we are currently seeing the moral break down of our society

 

B) Can we be saved – Great place to start is by referring to these things the way that God does – calling sin / sin

1)   And making no provision for it in our own lives

 

C) If you are playing around w/ secret sin or temptation – you are playing w/ fire & you are going to get burned / results are deadly

1)   Back draft –

 

D) Learn from David –Confess - repent – Make yourself accountable

 

Rules that I live by – No female secretary –

A)No traveling alone