David’s Fall & Restoration – 2 Samuel 11-12

David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and his restoration to the Lord through repentance and confession.

Like Saul, David also had a major failure in his life. But unlike Saul, there was a different outcome to David’s failure.

Context: Israel is at war with Ammon (chapter 10) and David leads the nation in battle (10:17-19) against the Syrians (who were hired by Ammon) and sees a great victory won.

The war with Ammon was not over as chapter 11 indicates but something went terribly wrong in the life of David at this point.

In this message we want to study David’s downfall that we might be warned and admonished in our own lives lest we also come to a place of spiritual ruin. That a man of the calibre of David could sin like this is a warning that “we take heed lest we fall” (1 Cor. 10:12)

The Causes of David’s Sin (11:1-5)

There were a number of contributors that lead to David’s fall into this sin. Scripture not only warns us of sin itself, but of the pathway that leads to sin. Note the seven-fold sequence of events:

Neglect of Duty – David Tarried (Vs. 1)

1. “after the year expired” = refers to Israel’s new year which commenced during the month of April. Weather a big factor in ancient warfare and fighting avoided in winter months (e.g. due to rain) and re-commenced in spring (after the year had expired)
2. The place of duty and responsibility is the place of safety.
3. Taking a break from the battle when it is time to fight is dangerous.
4. This put David in a compromised position where he was vulnerable to temptation.

Laziness and Idleness – David Wandered (Vs. 2)

1. “Standing waters gather filth. The bed of sloth often proves the bed of lust.” (Henry)
2. Connection between slothfulness and Sodom’s depravity: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” (Ez. 16:49)

Immodesty and Indecency – David Seduced (Vs. 2)

1. Bathsheba was indecently exposed in a place where she could be seen. In Bible times it was common for people to rest on their rooftops in the evening due to their being flat, serving a similar purpose to our porches today.
2. Bathsheba may have even staged this on purpose to try and lure David into sin. At best, she was careless in this area and became a stumbling block in David’s life.
3. Note: The Bible puts an emphasis on a Christian woman’s dress for good reason. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” Theme – Behaviour in the house of God (3:15)

Lust of the Eyes – David Coveted (Vs. 2)

1. This was no cursory glance. “the woman was very beautiful to look upon” – indicates David took an eye full
2. Warning! Failure to control one’s eyes will ultimately lead to sinful actions. Beware of the industries of the world centred on the promotion of lust!

Pursuit of the Sin – David Inquired (Vs. 3a)

1. David has failed to defeat the temptation at the gate of his mind. He has now given the temptation entrance into his heart and allowed it to exert its evil influence.
2. Mental adultery always precedes physical adultery.

Disregard for God’s Word – David Persisted (Vs. 3b)

1. David was well aware of what the O.T. law stated concerning taking another man’s wife but he disregarded the Word of God and pursued his sin.
2. Sin always leads me to disregard for and disobedience to the Word of God.

Indulgence in the sin – David Took (Vs. 4)

1. Observe the sequence – I Saw, I Coveted, I Took
2. Other illustrations: Eve & Achan

The Coverup of David’s Sin (Vs. 6-27)

Manipulation (Vs. 6-13)

1. David gives Uriah leave in the hopes a night at home will give the appearance that the child was Uriah’s (Vs. 6-9)
2. Uriah’s exceptional character highlighted in contrast to David’s (Vs. 10-11) Uriah’s response an indirect yet powerful rebuke to David. He refused to indulge in legitimate, lawful pleasure while David indulged in illicit, unlawful immorality.
3. David makes Uriah drunk in the hopes that it will break down his mental fortitude and cause him to go home to his wife (Vs. 12-13). Hab. 2:15 “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!”
4. Warning! Attempting to hide one’s sin will lead to further depths of sin and depravity. “Sin will take you further than you want to go and keep you longer than you want to stay.”

Murder (Vs. 14-26)

1. David plots the murder of Uriah and finds an all too willing helper in Joab (Vs. 14-15). David’s heart is being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” This same David previously would not stoop to murder king Saul, despite the fact he was David’s enemy.
2. The plan is carried out and Uriah perishes along with other servants of David (Vs. 16-18). Our choice to sin always affects others. It was said of Achan, “…and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.” (Josh. 22:20)
3. Lust is cruel and murderous. Illustration: Herod, Herodias & John the Baptist (Mark 6)

Marriage (Vs. 27)

1. With Uriah removed, David marries Bathseba and the coverup is complete.
2. God is displeased with David’s sin. God still views this sin seriously!
3. Eph. 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;”

The Confrontation of David’s Sin (12:1-12)

The Revealing of David’s Sin (Vs. 1-6)

1. God’s method is to use His preacher to confront and rebuke sin
2. Nathan’s uses an inductive method of rebuke. He tells David a story that will mirror David’s sin, though at first David is not aware of this.
3. “Rich man” – represents David.
4. “Poor man” – represents Uriah
5. David’s reaction to the story is typical of a guilt laden conscience – he pronounced a judgment that went beyond the requirement of the law. The law required that a stolen lamb be restored fourfold (Ex. 22). David requires death!
6. Like the blazing, illuminating flash of a lightning bolt come the words “THOU ART THE MAN”

The Rebuke of David’s Sin (Vs. 7-12)

1. The specifics of David’s sin (Vs. 7-9)
   1. The sin of ingratitude towards God (Vs. 7-8)
      1. David had a privileged position
      2. David had bountiful provision
   2. The sin of disrespect & disobedience to God’s Word (Vs. 9)
2. The consequences of David’s sin (Vs. 10-12)
   1. David would reap a bitter harvest from the sin he had sown
   2. David’s family would be plagued by treachery and immorality.

The Confession of David’s Sin (Vs. 13; Psalm 51)

An Unqualified Confession (Vs. 13a)

1. There are no excuses.
2. There are no attacks against God’s messenger
3. What a contrast to the superficial confession of Saul (1 Sam. 15)

A Repentant Confession (Psalm 51)

1. Repentance is God centred. “…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)
2. Though David had wronged many people on the human level, he recognised that ultimately his sin was against God. Read Psalm 51

An Answered Confession (Vs. 13b)

1. There was forgiveness – “The LORD also hath put away thy sin” The phrase “put away” has the idea of “to pass over”
2. There was mercy and grace – “thou shalt not die”
   1. The law demanded death for the adulterer (Lev. 20:10) and this would normally be a consequence of David’s sin. Though David would still receive much chastisement for his evil, the grace of God would deliver him from death
   2. The grace of God is available but it is bestowed upon the repentant sinner.
   3. Psalm 130:3-4 “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”

Conclusion

1. Have you repented of your sin and availed yourself of the cleansing blood for salvation?
2. What is our attitude to the Word of God? Do we hold it in light esteem?
3. What sin lies beneath the surface, unconfessed and unrepented of?

Sermon Audio Id: 421182244253