Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

1. Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

2. “Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

3. We have this warning: • (1 Cor 10:8-13 NKJV) “Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; {9} nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; {10} nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. {11} Now all these things happened to them as examples,

4. We have this warning: • (1 Cor 10:8-13 NKJV) and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. {12} Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. {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.”

5. David was a great man of God.

6. God called the shots • (1 Sam 16:7-12 NKJV) But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance,but the LORD looks at the heart." {8} So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." {9} Then Jesse made Shammah pass by.

7. Are these all of your sons? • (1 Sam 16:7-12 NKJV). And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." {10} Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." {11} And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

8. God called the shots • (1 Sam 16:7-12 NKJV). And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." {12} So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"

9. David was a great warrior with God’s help.

10. God gave Goliath into David’s hand. (1 Sam 17:42-47 NKJV) And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. {43} So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. {44} And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”

11. David Honored God on the Battle Field (1 Sam 17:42-47 NKJV) {45} Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. {46} "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.

12. God gave Goliath into David’s hand. (1 Sam 17:42-47 NKJV) And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. {47} "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

13. God gave Goliath to David • (1 Sam 17:48-52 NKJV) So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. {49} Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

14. God gave Goliath to David • (1 Sam 17:48-52 NKJV) {50} So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. {51} Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

15. Israel & Judah shared the victory • (1 Sam 17:48-52 NKJV) {52} Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

16. But David tripped over his own humanity.

17. A beautiful woman brought him down. •  (2 Sam 11:2-5 NKJV) 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. {3} So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

18. A beautiful woman brought him down. •  (2 Sam 11:2-5 NKJV) {4} Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. {5} And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."

19. He added murder to try to cover his sin. •  (2 Sam 11:14-17 NKJV) In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. {15} And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die." {16} So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.

20. He added murder to try to cover his sin. •  (2 Sam 11:14-17 NKJV) {17} Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

21. David’s Prayer of confession

22. A plea for mercy.  • (Psa 51 NKJV)  "Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, • There is no mention of anything David has done to deserve it —it’s mercy! • It’s God’s loving kindness.

23. The request:  What he wants! • (Psa 51:1) Blot out my transgressions. • {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. • Sin makes us feel dirty. • He wants to be able to walk humbly with God —sin keeps us apart.

24. He emphasizes the sin as being against God. • (Psa 51:4) Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight; That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. • He isn’t down playing what he has done to Uriah, but emphasizing what he has done against God. • How do you adequately say, “I don’t know how I could have done such a thing?”

25. David is Overwhelmed with his sin • (Psa 51:5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. • We’ve heard the question, Can’t you do anything right? It’s like David is saying, “No! I was born this way.” I think this is personal confession of sin and remorse, and not a doctrine.

26. He knows what God wants. • (Psa 51:6) Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

27. He knows what he needs and why. • (Psa 51:7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. {9} Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

28. He desires to walk humbly with God. • (Psa 51:11) 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. • David had had all of this, and he felt it slip away.

29. He is described as a man after God’s own heart. • (1 Sam 13:13-14 NKJV) And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. {14} "But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himselfa man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."

30. Walking with God includes sharing God with others. • (Psa 51:13)  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

31. He knew he was guilty of killing Uriah. • (Psa 51:14) Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. {15} O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

32. Behind sacrifices there must be a right spirit.. • (Psa 51:16)  For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise. {18} Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. {19} Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar."

33. David, after his fall, wanted to walk humbly with his God.

34. Conclusion • Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall . • When we fall may we have the courage to get up again, and ask for God’s forgiveness. • Have you been baptized into Christ to have your sins forgiven.