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“The Life of David – Part 11” 2 Samuel 11:1-15 05/03/2009 Dr. Dane Boyles. “The Life of David – Part 11”. Introduction One of the pieces of evidence in favor of the trustworthiness of the Bible is the remarkable honesty with which it tells us about its heroes.
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“The Life of David – Part 11”2 Samuel 11:1-1505/03/2009Dr. Dane Boyles
“The Life of David – Part 11” Introduction • One of the pieces of evidence in favor of the trustworthiness of the Bible is the remarkable honesty with which it tells us about its heroes. • We are told of their failures as well as their triumphs. • So it is with David.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • This story of David’s moral failure is a vivid illustration of a principle taught in James 1:13-15. • The principle is this: sin is not just a one-off event, it is part of a process.
“The Life of David – Part 11” 1. The trigger was an unguarded moment (2 Samuel 11:1-4). • 1In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (2 Sam. 11:1)
2 Samuel 11:2, NIV • 2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful,
2 Samuel 11:3, NIV • 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
2 Samuel 11:4, NIV • 4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • David allowed the casual glance to become a lustful gaze. • Thus David might have reasoned with himself in his unguarded moment.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • The forbidden fruit seemed good and desirable to Eve; yet it cast her out of Eden. • See, sin rarely seems sin in the beginning.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • 41Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ (Matt. 26:41) • 12If you think you’re standing firm, be careful you don’t fall! (1 Co. 10:12)
“The Life of David – Part 11” 2. The consequence was a web of deceit (2 Samuel 11:5-15). • David panics. • He must at all costs cover up his adultery. • He tries PLAN A.
2 Samuel 11:6-7, NIV • 6So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. • 7When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going.
2 Samuel 11:8-9, NIV • 8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. • 9But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.
2 Samuel 11:10, NIV • 10When David was told, “Uriah did not go home,” he asked him, “Haven’t you just come from a distance? Why didn't you go home?”
2 Samuel 11:11, NIV • 11Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
“The Life of David – Part 11” • David tries PLAN B. • 12Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. (2 Sam. 11:12)
2 Samuel 11:13, NIV • 13At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master's servants; he did not go home.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • If a man won’t be manipulated sober, get him drunk. • In desperation, David hits upon PLAN C. • 14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. (2 Sam. 11:14)
2 Samuel 11:15, NIV • 15In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
2 Samuel 11:16-17, NIV • 16So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. • 17When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David’s army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • It seemed like the perfect crime. • But there was, of course, one great flaw in David’s attempted cover-up. • He might be able to deceive others. • He might even be able to deceive himself.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • But he could not deceive the Lord. • 27But the thing David had done displeased the LORD (2 Samuel 11:27) • There is another universal truth here that applies to each one of us, as well as to David.
“The Life of David – Part 11” • Our own sin can lead so easily to a web of deceit. • 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:13)
“The Life of David – Part 11” Conclusion • What peace of mind, what joy of forgiveness is quickly experienced by those who have stopped pretending!
Hebrews 4:15, NIV • 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
“The Life of David – Part 11”2 Samuel 11:1-1505/03/2009Dr. Dane Boyles