Success - Deal with Personal Sin - 2 Samuel 11, 12 and Psalm 51 - August 22, 2010

Bible Study – Success – Deal with Personal Sin – August 22, 2010



This is lesson four (4) in our series “The Essential of Success.”


Our scripture is 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:1-24 and Psalm 51:1-4.


NO CHRISTIAN IS SO SPIRITUAL THAT HE OR SHE CAN ESCAPE THE POSSIBILITY OF FALLING INTO GRIEVOUS SIN. Satan knows us like the back of his hand and he will make sure at the first sign of compromise he will make certain that opportunity will follow. The scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13:


13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it.


GOD will provide the way of escape but those tempted must take the way of escape when it is revealed. One way to escape is to run in the opposite direction of the temptation.


Here is a main point that I would like for us to see. When Christians sin and confess his/her sin, repent and ask GOD to forgive him/her, HE does. David had to suffer the consequences of his sins but once GOD forgave him, GOD’S plan and purpose through him continued. Did GOD know that David would commit adultery and have Uriah killed before hand? YES! HE chose him anyway. GOD knew David’s heart. Remember last week’s study. GOD promised David that the Messiah would come through his descendants. David had not committed adultery and murder until later. The baby conceived through adultery died. The lineage of CHRIST came from David and Bathsheba through Solomon. This to me shows the extent of GOD’S love for HIS children. When HE forgives, HE forgets and HIS plan continues to completion. Our part is to confess, repent and continue to obediently follow HIM.


Now let’s read what GOD’S Word has to say.


Let’s read 2 Samuel 11:1-27:


David’s Adultery with Bathsheba


1 In the spring when kings march out [to war]* , David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem.[1]


David should have gone off to war with his army. Instead he stayed behind.


Had he already noticed his neighbor or did he need a breather? We can only speculate. But we do know the results of his staying behind.


2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, “This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.”[2]4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness.[3]Afterwards, she returned home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.”


David looked and liked what he saw. Likely his mind began building fantasies. David sent someone to find out who she was. David learned beforehand that Bathsheba was married. Yet, he sent for her anyway. Lust overrides commonsense. It was not like he did not already have enough pretty women, he received King Saul’s women.


Verse 4, revealed, since Bathsheba was cleaning herself from her monthly period; she was not pregnant when Uriah left for battle.


Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant.


Notice that David inquired about whom the woman was and asked someone to go get her. Then she sent someone to tell David that she was pregnant. So far there were several people involved with knowledge of what was going on.


David was told that she was pregnant. “No Problem”, he likely thought. “I have a grand plan, which will hide our problem.” But would it? If his grand plan did not accomplish his purpose, did he have a backup plan? Of course not, his plan would work because he knew human nature. Let’s see.


6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house. 10 When it was reported to David, “Uriah didn’t go home,” David questioned Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a journey? Why didn’t you go home?” 11 Uriah answered David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers[4] are camping in the open field. How can I enter my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live and by your life, I will not do this!”[5]12 “Stay here today also,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. He went out in the evening to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.


Uriah the loyal warrior refused to sleep with his wife. He was loyal to King David and to his fellow warriors. David’s plan was not working as he had planned. Had someone tipped Uriah off to what had happened while he was gone? We do not know. We do know that David’s plan was not working. He knew that Bathsheba would be killed for her infidelity. She was looking to David to take care of this situation. So David had to come up with plan two (2). Let’s see.


Uriah’s Death Arranged


14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies. 16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best [enemy]* soldiers were. 17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell [in battle]* ; Uriah the Hittite also died. 18 Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle. 19 He commanded the messenger, “When you’ve finished telling the king all the details of the battle— 20 if the king’s anger gets stirred up and he asks you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall? 21 At Thebez, who struck Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth?[6][7]Didn’t a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the top of the wall so that he died?[8] Why did you get so close to the wall?’—then say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ” 22 Then the messenger left. When he arrived, he reported to David all that Joab had sent him [to tell]* . 23 The messenger reported to David, “The men gained the advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we counterattacked right up to the entrance of the gate. 24 However, the archers shot down on your soldiers from the top of the wall, and some of the king’s soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.” 25 David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Don’t let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him.” 26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him.[9] 27 When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. However, the LORD considered what David had done to be evil.


The evil deed had been accomplished. David was a warrior and he knew battle strategy. Joab, David’s commander, knew David would be upset about the battle strategy Joab used in this particular battle. Joab told his messenger to add that during this battle Uriah was killed. The evil deed had been accomplished. Again, notes and messages were passed back and forth. Others knew what was going on. When David heard that Uriah had been killed his reaction was, “Well, when you fight in a battle some will lose their life.” It appears David felt his hands were clean of any wrong doing because he had not physically killed Uriah but GOD would make him deal with what he had done and knowingly suffer the consequences.


Bathsheba was told of the death of her husband and mourned. After a period of mourning, David had her brought to his house. David does the noble thing and married her. His plan had worked and no one was the wiser. He likely thought how clever he was. But GOD knew and would make David face and acknowledge his sins. GOD gave the Prophet Nathan a tough assignment. He had to confront the king with his evil deed. Let’s see.

Let’s read 2 Samuel 12:1-24:


Nathan’s Parable and David’s Repentance


1 So the LORD sent Nathan to David.[1] When he arrived, he said to him: There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. It lived and grew up with him and his children. It shared his meager food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.[2]5 David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”[3]7 Nathan replied to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel,[4] and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms,[5] and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. 9 Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing what I consider[6] evil?[7] You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.[8] 10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house[9] because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.’ 11 “This is what the LORD says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you[10] from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another[11] before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly.[12] 12 You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.’ ”[13][14]13 David responded to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”[15]Then Nathan replied to David, “The LORD has taken away your sin; you will not die.[16] 14 However, because you treated[17] the LORD with such contempt in this matter,[18] the son born to you will die.” 15 Then Nathan went home.


David finally acknowledged his sin but Nathan had to point his finger at him and tell him, “You are the man!!!” These words must have penetrated David to the core. Nathan reviewed with David all GOD had done for him. He had more wives than he knew what to do with because when he was made king all of Saul’s women became his. Yet, he wanted more. David confessed his sins and GOD forgave him but he had to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.


Notice in verse 13, David said “I have sinned against the LORD.” This is true but so many others had been impacted by his sin – Bathsheba, Uriah, Joab, messengers, note carriers, those who overheard pagan and non-pagan kings and heaven only knows who else. David was a very visible person with a strong testimony for GOD, yet he compromised and sinned. Sin always impacts and influences others. Yet, we all sin. Our nature is to sin. Even those of us who are born-again, read our Bible daily, pray and witness sin. Building an intimate, loving relationship with CHRIST will help us keep our minds focused upon HIM but the closer we get to HIM the more we see how sinful we are and how much we depend upon HIM for our eternal salvation and cleansing.


The Prophet Nathan told David that as a result of his sin, the baby conceived during the adulterous affair would die. GOD did not delay. An illness came upon the baby. David knew the child was ill because of his sin. Let’s see.


The Death of Bathsheba’s Son


The LORD struck the baby that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went [home]* , and spent the night lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. 18 On the seventh day the baby died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him the baby was dead. They said, “Look, while the baby was alive, we spoke to him, and he wouldn’t listen to us. So how can we tell him the baby is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, he guessed that the baby was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the baby dead?” “He is dead,” they replied. 20 Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the LORD’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested [something to eat]* . So they served him food, and he ate. 21 His servants asked him, “What did you just do? While the baby was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate food.” 22 He answered, “While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I’ll go to him, but he will never return to me.”


David went before the LORD and prayed that HE would spare the child. Once he was told that the child was dead, he knew he had done all he could. He got up washed his face and faced life. Notice the faith of David in verse 23. David had complete trust in GOD’S ability to heal the child. David also believed in life after death and that GOD had forgiven him. He had faith in GOD that he would see the baby in heaven upon his death. David knew GOD and he knew what GOD had in store for those who love HIM. He knew he would go to heaven because he had confessed his sins and GOD had forgiven him. David knew the grace of GOD.


GOD extends HIS grace, which is unmerited favor, to all HIS children who are born-again. David committed adultery, murder and tried to cover it up. He finally confessed his sins and GOD forgave him. GOD does the same today. GOD never abandons HIS children. Un-confessed sin will block our fellowship with HIM. GOD never moves we do.


Often, it is difficult for those who have sinned to accept GOD’S forgiveness. Once we have confessed our sins, asked HIM to forgive us and repented, HE does. Christians are restored to full fellowship with HIM. What happens if we sin again? We confess, repent and ask for HIS forgiveness. GOD does not hold grudges as we will see next. HE forgets our sins but we often remember and so will those we have sinned against. Does that mean we have not been forgiven? NO! To me this next scripture shows the love of GOD even after we have sinned, confessed and repented. Let’s see.


The Birth of Solomon


24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named[19] him Solomon.[20][21]The LORD loved him, 25 and He sent [a message]* through Nathan the prophet, who named[22] him Jedidiah,[23] because of the LORD.


GOD allowed David and Bathsheba to have another son. The LORD loved this son who they named Solomon.


We all sin. Any one of us as Christians can find ourselves in a bad situation because of sin – adultery, murder, various addictions, embezzlement, shop lifting, alcohol abuse, pornography and the list goes on and on. Confess your sins and ask GOD to give you the strength to deal with them. Seek help to free yourself from the slavery of sin. Do not try to hide your sins because they will be revealed. Confess them to GOD through CHRIST and seek HIS help and strength.


Just know that GOD loves you and still has a plan for your life on the other side of confessed and forgiven sin. Let’s read David’s psalm which reflects the depth of his sin and his earnest desire to have his fellowship restored with GOD.


Let’s read Psalm 51:1-4:


A Prayer for Restoration


[For the choir director. A Davidic psalm, when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba.[1]] * Some Bible scholars believe that the note “for the choir director” implies that David gave permission for his personal confession to be used as part of Israel’s public worship. Often, during our deepest sorrow and recognition of our sin, words of such awesome beauty and purity come forth, when we encounter GOD through CHRIST and THE HOLY SPIRIT in the eyes of our heart. We recognize and understand that only GOD can set us free from our sin and cleanse us.


1 Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Wash away my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.[2]


David used three (3) words for sins, two (2) for GOD forgiving him and three (3) words for GOD WHO forgives:


Sins – Guilt, Rebellion, Sinned


Forgiveness – Gracious, Abundant Compassion


GOD’S Part – Blot Out, Wash Away, Cleanse


David acknowledged that what he had done was evil. He was guilty. He rebelled against GOD and he had missed the mark of GOD’S standard, which is sin. He recognized and acknowledged that forgiveness only comes from GOD through HIS grace and immeasurable compassion. GOD was the only ONE WHO could make him clean to his very core. The word “wash” carries the idea of deep cleaning as one would do when thoroughly cleaning a dirty garment. When washed there would not be even a stain left. He acknowledged that GOD was right and justified in passing the sentence upon him. GOD was not picking on him but he acknowledged that he deserved GOD’S judgment and GOD’S judgment was just.


All Christians are sinners saved by grace. As stated earlier, any one of us is subject to falling into grievous sin. If you think that cannot happen to you, then you are the most at risk. The Good News is that GOD forgives and restores when Christians confess and repent. Deal with personal sin because if you do not, it will break fellowship between you and GOD. Will you lose your salvation? NO! But you will lose your effectiveness and likely your witness. There are consequences for missing GOD’S standard, which is sin. What or who is your Bathsheba?