Introduction
You are the man! It's what Tiger Woods hears from his father after sinking an 18-foot putt to secure another PGA tournament championship. If Michael Jordan achieves a 6th NBA Championship, sports analysts and fans will say it, You are the man!
Ladies, forgive me if I have lost you with my male perspective this morning, but You are the man, is something every male wants to hear at least once in his life. It's the 11-year-old who hits his 1st home run in Little League this summer. It's the response the working man wants to hear from a colleague on a job well done, the weekend warrior who just made the winning shot in a pick up game, the preacher who just nailed a point…
However, no man in this room wants to hear those four 3-letter words in the context of which King David heard them in 2 Samuel 12:7. For David, they took on a much different meaning, having nothing to do with success or another victory. It was the mark of failure.
In our series, Construction of a Kingdom, we have explored how God establishes His design and purpose in our lives. Week after week, I have hoped that we could grasp the idea that the Lord has a distinct purpose and vision for our lives. We have delved into the lessons that David learned as he moved from the pastures of a shepherd into the palace of a king. We have seen how God accomplished this in David's life…
1 Personal character is a foundation on which God builds His kingdom.
2 The Lord uses personal battles to let us experience His empowering presence.
3 By taking refuge in the Lord, He can prepare us for His glorious purposes.
4 The Lord will bring Godly influence in our lives to prepare us for His plans.
5 Worshiping God transports His abiding presence into our lives that we might know His power and glory.
We have seen the victories in David's life, but what happens when he fails. By this time, David has been on the throne some 20 years and is between 45 and 50 years of age. Today, we see the sorted details of a grim failure. The Lord would have us learn from the catastrophe.
1 Corinthians 10:11 - 12 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. They are written for us to learn from.
David's adultery with Bathsheba and act of murder against her husband cripples God's purpose in him, devastating his future & those closest to him. Sin always does…
Theme: Disobedience results from a process that weakens and damages God's purpose and kingdom in our lives.
3 observations can be made that brought David through this dark chapter in his life. They are three God intends for us to learn from…
1 Failure resulted from a perilous flaw…
No one falls by accident, not even David. In these events, we are forced to question, David, how could you fall so low, for David, the conqueror of Goliath and the Philistines is now conquered by his own passion. Not even a man after God's heart is immune from a tragic fall from grace.
We've seen in his life a tremendous heart for the things of God. He was a man who committed nearly everything to prayer. The Psalms reveal much his personal devotional life which included prayer regarding every issue in his life; the battles with the Philistines, his strenuous relationship with King Saul, his relationship with God. Yet, never once is it recorded that he prayed concerning his love life.
The seeds of David's fall were being sown much earlier in his life
Deuteronomy 17:16-17 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again. Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
David had done well in 2 out of 3. The Scriptures reveal the David took many wives and concubines. In 1 Samuel 17, he married Michal, in 1 Samuel 25, Abigail and Ahinoam, in 2 Samuel 5, several more wives. He had indulged himself in the passions of physical love, unrestrained by God's counsel through His Word. Over 20 years of looseness regarding God's instruction in his life piled up prior to his affair!
Some 20 years ago the Great Teton Dam in Western Idaho collapsed sending millions of gallons of water into the Snake River basin. Workers at the dam had barely enough time to escape. Was it a freak accident? No. After further examination, it was determined that at the base of the wall of the dam a fault line suffered substantial erosion over the years and caused it to give way to the catastrophe. No one saw the cause, but everyone witnessed the big collapse.
In the same way, gross sin is the culmination of a process, not a single act. Up to 2 Samuel 11 account of his fall, his life has been like a neglected sea wall standing constantly against the barrage of the tide of an ever-pounding ocean. It was a slow build up of unjudged sin. Unguarded and in a weakened moment, it would crumble and the consequences of sin would flood his life.
James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Immorality doesn't begin with the act. It begins with the little things that feed the appetite for sensual sin. It may be impetuous reading of suggestive novels, casual petting on a date, some affinity for pornography, nonchalant flirting masking a hidden agenda - little things. If they are not brought to the cross, you will reap bitter consequences. Sin will destroy your marriage. It will destroy your home. It will destroy your life. It will destroy your future.
2 Failure resulted from a planned affair…
David's affair was a planned move; deliberate and pre-meditated… The spring was a time for battle to resume, but David is not on the battlefield. In the past, God's will was his agenda, but now he's on extended vacation. God had built a kingdom for him, but David is content to relax...
Vacations are important, but David has chosen to neglect the work of God for selfish reasons. His personal vision has been blurred. No longer do we witness the passionate side of David for kingdom work. He has become slothful... Selfishness now dominates his relationship with the Lord and his attitude toward the work of God.
The Scripture warns us regarding slothfulness. Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
We have a responsibility to attend to God's purposes in our lives. It's important that we fight through lethargy and not abandon those things that draw us closer to the Lord. Neither can we fail to attend to those responsibilities we have to our families, places of employment, our church to effect the work of the kingdom through our witness and ministry.
David's stroll on the roof of the palace allowed him to gaze... His step onto that palace roof was a step out of the integrity that had so carefully guarded his life up to this point. She was beautiful as she bathed and David inquired as to her identity. Even when he finds that she is the wife of Uriah, one of his men of valor, he absolutely shows no restraint. His deliberate act of adultery goes on without a shred of self-examination or discretion. He neither guarded his eye gate, nor restrained his flesh.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.
The lust of the flesh is that old nature that is forever in man as long as he is in a physical body. The lust of the eyes causes us to covet or desire what does not belong to us and it feeds the lust of the flesh. David obeyed his flesh with no restraint.
Sexual sin comes with a far greater price tag than it appears. Today, the wisdom of our culture is concerned with protection from STD's and pregnancy, but the Scriptures condemn sexual sin. The cultural standard allows that people can do what ever they want as long as they don't hurt anybody else, the Lord holds a much higher cause.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. {19} Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? {20} For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. The body is the place of God's habitation and to engage in sexual immorality is to link God's Spirit and your own with fornication… The price tag will ring up in divided families, wounded children, and heartache…
His actions were also carried out in secrecy and deception. Shortly after his conduct with Bathsheba, the news of her pregnancy reaches him. His kingdom and reputation are now at stake. Adultery in the Old Testament incurred the death penalty. David must cover his tracks.
Only 4 verses of 2 Samuel 12 deal with his adultery. Yet, 23 verses concern his wicked actions against Uriah. (6-13) David at first sought to bring Uriah home that he might spend time with his wife, but Uriah's response in verse 11 shows stark contrast…
(14-17) David then makes a decision, which only he can make. Abusing his power he sends Uriah back to the battlefield with executive orders stating that Uriah is to be sent to the frontlines as the armies advance against the Ammonites. Please note that David not only sent Uriah to his death, but his order condemned others of his most valiant men, as well. Deception does that…
In the aftermath, David takes Bathsheba to be his wife. We are inclined to believe today in our nation that a high ranking government official can commit sordid activities and get off scott free, but verse 27 serves as reality check… But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
In that brief statement we see the raw open sewage of David's life. For David who had stood so valiantly before 2 Samuel 11, the legacy of his honorable reign now reflects the shameful acts of adultery and murder.
3 Failure resulted in a personal confession…
God loves us enough to confront sin. In a marvelous move on God's part, He finally brought David face to face with his failure. Though David may have avoided news of his disgrace going public, conviction will not let him rest.
Psalm 32:3-4 captures the anguish David felt. Loss of sleep, life's energies sapped, haunting memories, physical sickness, mental duress; they are the marks of a guilty soul.
God spoke to the prophet Nathan who approaches David. Nathan the prophet needed no introduction for David, or resume. He had many times been a counselor to David. His approach included a story (1-3)…
By now David is on the edge of his seat, listening & thinking as Nathan continues (4)… As a result of the wise words of Nathan, David was in a vulnerable position. Moved with compassion over the story, David's response was a haunting (5-6)…
Nathan merely responded with the four most forceful words David would ever here… You are the man! You're the man, David! You're the one who fed that wayfaring thought. You're the man who said to that stranger called lust, 'I'll take someone else's lamb and I'll satisfy my desires with her.' David, you are the man!
Look at the moving message as he continued (7-12)… God's heart is revealed so powerfully in those moving words.
The truth could be summed up in Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. {8} For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption…
It was here that David repented. It is the confession of a man after God's heart. His response to the Lord is found in Psalm 51…
David would face bitter consequences, but he could endure them in God's mercy and strength, the joy of his salvation. His restoration gives 4 keys to true repentance…
1) There will be open, unguarded admission. David said, I've sinned. I'll not hide it anymore. When a person holds back the truth, that person is not truly repentant.
2) There is a desire to make a complete break from sin. Proverbs 28:13 - He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
3) The spirit is truly broken and humble. Psalm 51:17. A contrite heart makes no demands and has no expectations. It is completely dependent upon mercy.
4) There is a claiming of forgiveness and reinstatement.
There may be one or more here today who have gone their path and seen the absolute decimation of their lives and the lives of others because of personal sin and failure. I want you to see two things before we close.
1) 2 Samuel 12:24-25 Solomon was born to Bathsheba and David. His name, Jedidiah, means the Lord loves…
2) Matthew 1:6, 16 God brought Jesus through people who messed up.
Conclusion
There is a loving God who knows the destructive power of sin and today we can turn to Him for grace and mercy. We can never experience His grace unless we are willing to acknowledge our sin before Him.
