Apr 27 May 3 Davids Sin

Events That Changed HistoryEvents That Changed History

This week we read of some events that changed

history. A couple involved terrible sins, sins we would never think of committing.

Events That Changed HistoryEvents That Changed History

We should be able to learn some very valuable lessons

from these situations. First, we read about David’s

scandal with Bathsheba.

Scandal And Cover-UpScandal And Cover-Up

The account of David's adulterous affair with

Bathsheba makes a point of the fact that David stayed at home in Jerusalem while his

armies went to battle.


That suggests that the affair occurred because David was neither where he should have been nor

doing what he should have been doing.


However, regardless of why David fell into sin, most of the biblical account of it is devoted to the cover-up that David attempted

once Bathsheba conceived. David tried three plans to cover his sin

(or so he thought):


Plan A was to make the pregnancy look like the

result of normal relations between Bathsheba and

her husband, Uriah.


But as a man of conscience, Uriah would not allow himself a

privilege that was denied the rest of David's troops. In that

way, loyal Uriah put unprincipled David to shame.


Plan B was based on the assumption that drunkenness

would lower Uriah's well-guarded principles so that he would sleep with his wife. But

again Uriah resisted the impulse.


Plan C called for neither coercion nor deception, but

outright murder. Uriah was to be sacrificed to the enemy in a way that would make his death appear to be a casualty of war.


Then David could respond to the

grieving widow by embracing her as his

wife.


Plan C might have worked, except that David was not some pagan king but the

Lord's anointed. In violating Bathsheba and arranging

Uriah's death,


David had "despised the commandment of the LORD". Thus the Lord sent Nathan to expose his sin and pronounce

judgment.


David admitted his sins and repented of his wrongdoing,

turning to God for forgiveness and the renewal of his spiritual walk. God forgave him, but the

child died.


Once David was right with God, his union with Bathsheba was blessed

with another child, Solomon. Nevertheless, despite his

cleansing from the Lord, David was permanently affected by this

scandalous episode.

You Are The ManYou Are The Man

Just as David was a man after God's own heart, so Nathan

was God's gift to the man after His own heart. Scripture

introduces him suddenly when David sought to build a temple

to the Lord.


Nathan revealed that God promised to establish

David's dynasty, but that He wanted the

construction of a temple to be left for Solomon.


Nathan's next appearance followed David's sin with

Bathsheba. He pinpointed David's guilt with the stinging accusation, "You are the man!"


Nathan's prophecy concerning David's house came to pass with Amnon's rape of Tamar, Absalom's murder of Amnon,

and Absalom's rebellion against his father and the violation of

David's concubines.


Nathan helped to prevent another of David's sons,

Adonijah, from seizing the throne by reminding the

king of his promise to make Solomon his successor.


He then assisted in the crowning of Solomon before disappearing from

the account. Confronting others about, their sin is a delicate matter. For help in doing it

properly, see Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:15-20 (Word in Life)


"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault

when the two of you are alone. If he listens to

you, you have regained your brother.


16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with

you, so that at the testimony of two or three

witnesses every matter may be established.


17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the

church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat

him like a Gentile or a tax collector.

"I Have Sinned" "I Have Sinned"

David's simple confession to Nathan, "I have sinned", summarized his much

longer prayer of repentance, and appeal for cleansing in

Psalm 51.

"I Have Sinned" "I Have Sinned"

Nathan replied that God had "put away," or forgiven, David's sin. That God would do so reveals

much about His character—that He delights in forgiving

repentant sinners.

Amnon & TamarAmnon & Tamar

2 Samuel 13 Amnon falls in love with his half-sister

Tamar, and feigns himself sick, and requests her to

attend him. David sends her to him, and he violates her.

Amnon & TamarAmnon & Tamar

He then hates her, and expels her from his

house, She rends her garments, puts ashes on her head, and goes forth

weeping.

Absalom Avenges His SisterAbsalom Avenges His Sister

She is met by Absalom her brother, who, understanding her case,

determines the death of Amnon. Two years after, he invites all his

brothers to a sheep-shearing, when he orders his servants to

murder Amnon.

Absalom Avenges His SisterAbsalom Avenges His Sister

Tidings come to David that Absalom has slain all the king’s

sons, which fills him with the bitterest distress. The rest soon arrive, and he finds that Amnon

only is killed.

Absalom FleesAbsalom Flees

Absalom flees to Talmai, king of Geshur, where he

remains three years. David longs after Absalom, having

become reconciled to the death of Amnon. (Clarke)

Absalom's ReturnAbsalom's ReturnAs David did not repeal the banishment

of Absalom, even after he had comforted himself for Amnon's death, Joab endeavoured to bring him back to Jerusalem by stratagem; and when

this succeeded, he proceeded to effect his reconciliation to the king.

Absalom's Return Absalom's Return

He may have been induced to take these steps partly by his

personal attachment to Absalom, but the principal reason no doubt was that

Absalom had the best prospect of succeeding to the throne.


Joab thought this the best way to secure himself from punishment for the murder which he had committed. But the issue of events

frustrated all such hopes.


Absalom did not succeed to the throne, Joab did not escape punishment, and

David was severely chastised for his weakness

and injustice. (K&D)

A Theft of Hearts in The Gates of A Theft of Hearts in The Gates of JusticeJustice

If a person wants to gather a following, one way to do it is by criticizing a public system and

then leading others to believe that one could fix its problems if given power. Such was the strategy by

which Absalom "stole the hearts of the men of Israel."


Absalom chose Israel's justice system as his venue from which to attack his father, David. As king, David was ultimately responsible for

overseeing legal matters in the kingdom.


Apparently the system did not function as

efficiently as it might have, a fact that

Absalom exploited.


He placed himself near "the gate," which was either the city gate, where commercial, civic, and

judicial business was transacted, or possibly the palace gate. There he intercepted people coming to

David seeking legal redress.


Absalom, perhaps fearing that true justice might assert itself

against his treasonous scheme, employed 50 bodyguards, along with a contingent of

chariots and horses.


David should have suspected such a large battalion of men guarding a known rebel. Yet

apparently he ignored the threat that was stalking his

reign right outside, in the gates of justice. (Word in LifeTM Study Bible)

Absalom's VowAbsalom's Vow

Absalom's supposed vow to serve the Lord if He would

return him to Jerusalem was clearly part of a scheme to depose his father, David, and take over the throne.

Absalom's VowAbsalom's Vow

Yet even though the vow was a pretext for conspiracy, the Lord

took it seriously. In the Law, God had clearly warned the

Hebrews that whatever came out of their mouths was binding.

(Word in LifeTM Study Bible)

David Flees JerusalemDavid Flees Jerusalem

David's flight from Jerusalem must have been a humiliating

experience, inasmuch as he was run off by his own son Absalom. Psalm 3 was composed at this

time, and can be read as a parallel passage to the account in 2

Samuel. (Word in LifeTM Study Bible)

Weariness in the WildernessWeariness in the Wilderness

The flight of David and his loyal followers to escape his

treacherous son Absalom was one of several occasions on which David took refuge in a

wilderness area.

Weariness in the WildernessWeariness in the Wilderness

It is possible that the king composed Psalm 63 during this journey, which should be read in conjunction with 2 Samuel, The psalm, expresses David's prayer to God in "a dry and thirsty land," and may anticipate the ultimate defeat of Absalom. (Word in LifeTM Study Bible)

Lessons We Can LearnLessons We Can Learn

What are the lessons we can take from this week’s

reading? We would never consider doing

such terrible things like adultery, rape, or murder.

Lessons We Can LearnLessons We Can Learn

Are those sins really so terrible? Are there sins

greater than the rest?

The Greatest CommandmentThe Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:36 NET “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"


37 Jesus said to him, " 'Love the Lord your

God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'


38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as

yourself.'


40 All the law and the prophets depend on these

two commandments." Of course, Jesus tells us plainly the two greatest commands on which all

others depend.

Is One Sin Greater Than Is One Sin Greater Than Another?Another?

If we don’t love our neighbor is that as bad as not loving the Lord with all our might? Let’s look

at the example James gives.


James 2:8 NET But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed

in this scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as

yourself," you are doing well.


9 But if you show prejudice, you are

committing sin and are convicted by the law as

violators.


10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of

all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."


Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit

murder, you have become a violator of the

law.

Even A Little Sin Make Us Even A Little Sin Make Us SinnersSinners

The point is, whether we think the sin great or

small, regardless, when we commit the least sin

we are still sinners!

Even A Little Sin Make Us Even A Little Sin Make Us SinnersSinnersWe’ll not even explore how

easy it is to sin without lifting a finger, ie. If you hate your brother you are guilty of murder, If you

look at a woman with desire in your heart you are guilty

of adultery.

Love Will Show Us as Love Will Show Us as DisciplesDisciples

John 13:34 NET “I give you a new commandment — to

love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Love Will Show Us as Love Will Show Us as DisciplesDisciples

35 Everyone will know by this that you are my

disciples — if you have love for one another."

Love is Everything!Love is Everything!

Love is what it all boils down to. Love for God is obedience. We show this obedience when we love others. Jesus says this is a sure sign of His disciples,

Love for one another.

Apr 27 May 3 Davids Sin

Spiritual

Transcript of Apr 27 May 3 Davids Sin