INTRODUCTION, John Maxwell in his book Failing Forward tells of a story Sergio Zyman, a vice president in fortune 500 company. After 20 years of lagging sales, Sergio believed the company needed a fresh approach.
People listen to Sergio, after all in 1982 Sergio introduced the company to a new product and sales soared. So when Sergio introduced his idea of a new product in 1985 little did he know the negative reaction that greeted him.
What did Sergio invent?
NEW COKE – It lasted 79 days and cost the company 100 million dollars and Sergio lost his job.
What a huge mistake.
Some would say it was a colossal failure
If we are honest we have all made mistakes – maybe our mistakes were not as costly as Sergio’s but you know we have all made mistakes.
In our series in the life of David we have discovered a giant killer, a friend, a shepherd and tonight we are going to discover a person who makes mistakes.
Before we look at the life of David in 2 Samuel we need to understand the difference in David and Sergio Zyman
Sergio made a mistake in marketing – it cost his company money and eventually his job.
David made a mistake in morality and it cost him dearly as we shall see.
As we look in the life of David we must understand he is no different from any of us – we all struggle in the area of sin. Paul wrote all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Tonight I want us to deal – not with our sin by what do we do after we sin.
It has been said that a man does not go to hell because of his sin but he goes to hell because of the way he deals with his sin.
BACKGROUND OF OUR TEXT
2 Sam 11:1, In 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.
David meets Bath Sheba
A look becomes a leer, a leer becomes a lust and a lust becomes a sin.
AS a result of the sin – Bath Sheba becomes pregnant
David begins a plan to conceal his sin,
Urriah is brought home from the battle
Go home be with your wife
Go home and be with your wife – Not while the Lord’s army is fighting – Urriah was a better man drunk then David was sober.
The letter to Joab – at the fiercest point of the battle draw back and leave Urriah alone.
The Result of the scheme – 2 Sam 11:19-27
He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ’Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ’Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’" The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: ’Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab. "When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
Now that the deed is done I want you to notice 3 actions David took to handle his failure
READ 12:1
1. David was open to accountability
The role of Nathan
Not much in known about this man
He was willing to confront – THE KING!
This was probably the mort important characteristic of Nathan, Gal 6:1, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
The role of David
He was capable of being wounded – he realized he made a mistake.
He was also willing to be taught
The purpose of accountability
Reminds us who we are – we are sons of God
Accountability is both helpful and healthy
Accountability starts with this prayer
Lord I am willing to receive what you have, to lack what you withhold, to relinquish what you take, to suffer what you inflict to be what you require. And, Lord, If others are to be your messenger to me, I am willing to heed and to hear what they have to say – Amen.
2. David had the ability to see the big picture
There was going to be divine judgment
The death of a baby
Why did the baby have to die? Because in God’s sovereignty he would not allow David’s throne to be carried on through the deceitfulness of Sin.
David saw more than others
He saw a resurrection
2 Sam 12:22-23, He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ’Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
He saw God has more than a God of judgment – he was a God of Grace.
2 Sam 12:24, Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him
3. In failure David was aware of his priorities
David’s first priority was to confess his sin.
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me
Wash me and cleanse me from my sin
My sin is before me – guilt
Against you have I sinned
Before there can be restoration there must have been a cleansing
How easy it would have been for David to remove Nathan – after all he was the King.
David’s second priority was to reestablish his relationship with God.
When we sin do we make it a priority to reestablish contact with God?
Conclusion – Sergio Zyman suggested a new coke – and in 1985, he cost the company millions, he became a subject of ridicule and lost his job. But in 1989 he was restored back into the coke family.
Brought back into the family David understood that – he had committed a grievous sin
The cost was great
A child died
He was racked with guilt
2 Sam 12:14, Because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt.
And yet he was restored
I said at the beginning of the message; a man does not go to hell because of his sin but he goes to hell because of the way he deals with his sin.
How are we dealing with our sin today
It can only be dealt with through the Blood of Jesus
PRAYER
