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What David needed when he messed up his life!

What David needed when he messed up his life!

TEXT: 2 Samuel 11-12

Introduction: David is one of the most popular characters in the Bible. He triumphed over a Lion, Bear and Giant. He maintained integrity while hunted like a wild animal by King Saul. He even lead God's people to dedication while he was King.

However, even a man after God's own heart can mess up his life. David sinned and messed up his life. He acted:

• irresponsibility (2 Sam. 11:1 - In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.)

• irreverently (11:2-5 - 2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.

5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, "I am pregnant."

• and irrationally (11:6-27 kills one of his mighty men of valor).

David broke 50% of the Ten Commandments: adultery (2 Sam. 11:4— Commandment #7), coveted neighbor's wife (2 Sam. 11:3—Commandment #10), stole another man's wife (2 Sam. 12:9—Commandment #8), lied (2 Sam. 11:7, 8, 12 & 13—Commandment #9) and murdered (2 Sam. 11:17; 12:9—Commandment #6). David's sin was great and he needed help when his life was messed up!

1. What help did David need?

 David needed someone to be total honest about the sin in his life. He didn't need someone to sooth his conscience or pacify his soul; he needed truth and honesty. Nathan was the man (2 Sam. 12:1-7 -1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,

6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."

7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.).

 David needed a heart that could be broken. He needed a contrite heart (Ps. 51:1 - Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!); a heart that was tender and receptive.

 David needed assurance of forgiveness. Our number one problem is sin, thus our number one need is the forgiveness of sin (Ps. 32:1-2 - 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. ).

 David needed continued strength to carry on after his sin had been forgiven. There is great need for encouragement and exhortation in the world and in the church. Paul said, "lest perhaps such a one be swal- lowed up with too much sorrow" (2 Cor. 2:7).

2. David learned some valuable lessons:

 He learned the certainty of exposure (Num. 32:23 - But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.).

 He learned the certainty of harvest time (Gal. 6:7-8 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.).

 He learned the certainty of separation (Isa. 59:1-2 - 1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.).

3. What did David do when confronted with his sin?

 David admitted/acknowledged his sin (2 Sam. 12:13 - David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.). He showed personal responsibility for his sin though he was not the only sinner.

 David turned to God (Psalm 51:4 -Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. ). There are no small sins against the great God.

 David asked God for forgiveness (Psalm 51:1). He didn't use elaborate or soft vocabulary. He said, "I have sinned," and God forgave!

Conclusion: In the original Hebrew, David's statement I have sinned against the Lord amounts to only two words: hata al-Yahweh. These two words, and the heart they reflect, show the fundamental difference between David and Saul. Confession doesn't need to be long to be real and sincere. David's confession is an example for each of us. He placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders. He did not minimize his offense. David realized that his sin was against God.




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