Teague Bible Church

David and Bathsheba    II Samuel Chapter 11 and 12        9/22/13

(We cut away the first 6 minutes to save time, so the audio starts right before the “Berleburg Bible” reading below. We leave spaces so you can add your own notes in between the spaces. Usually more information in the notes for further study.)

INTRO:  Image Christianity:

“You get saved then you grow steadily upward and onward. If you have a great fall into sin that means you were never saved in the first place.”

I was raised on that message in the first few years after I was saved. It translated into an attitude of giving up on those people, even though it is clear in Scripture what to do in such situations.

Try to restore the person!  Galatians 6:1-3/ II Corinthian 2:4-8, 7:8-12

 On the other hand, we do not need to feel it is all our fault if they do not get restored. You and I  have tried to restore many, who have fallen, but who run away from the church during those times, and do not give us a chance to restore them.They then go about telling the world that the church rejected them.  Do we leave them alone or go after them? It takes real wisdom to know how to do this. The fallen one’s mood may change like the wind. If we pursue them they think we are a bother to them. If we do nothing they say we do not care. When you figure it out please let me know! Let us tell the truth about both sides of these situations. Sometimes the person was never really saved, but some are, and can be restored.

 

Reality Christianity:

     The old nature is still there. We now have power by the new nature to not be dominated by the old nature. You certainly are not condemned because you struggle. Romans 8:1.

 

You have to choose, moment-by-moment, to walk in the Spirit and not give into the thoughts created but the flesh and strengthened by the emotion of the moment. Galatians 5:16.

 

Jeremiah 17:9   The “old nature” never gets better.

God works to transform you via the “new nature.”

 

 John 6:63   “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the

words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

 

READ:     Berleburg Bible notes, 1726 A.D. 

                               Reflections on The fall of David

” We may see from this how deep a soul may fall when it turns away from God, and from the guidance of His grace. This David, who in the days of his persecution would not even resort to means that were really plausible in order to defend himself, was now not ashamed to resort to the greatest crimes in order to cover his sin. Oh God! How great is our strength when we lay firm hold on You. And how weak we become as soon as we turn away from You. The greatest saints would be ready for the worst of deeds, if You should leave them for a single moment without Your protection. Whoever reflects upon this, will give up all thought of self-security and spiritual pride.”

 

 

READ:      II Samuel 11:1-5

 

Summarize    II Samuel 1: 6-21

 

Plan 1 :   Get Uriah (one of David’s 37 mighty men) to be intimate with his wife,  thus covering the pregnancy.  Failed plan

 

Plan 2 : Get him drunk, then he will do Plan 1. Failed plan

 

Plan 3 : Put him in the thick of battle and withdraw from him.  Joab improved

on the plan (because that would be too obvious.) Finally, Uriah and several

other good men dead just to cover David’s sin. Success?

 

READ: II Samuel 11:22-27

 

David had 10 concubines, all of Saul’s wives and concubines if he wanted;  8 named wives; plus others that are not named. Sin in insanity! How could you have this much and want more? Did God approve of polygomy? NO!

Not the way any man was meant to live!

The original plan was one man with one wife. Matthew 19

 

This polygamy was allowed because the only other option was to wipe them all out; much like in Noah’s day.

The Law regulated abuses till the fullness of time came in Christ.

We all have this old nature. If left unredeemed, unchanged, by the new birth; the new nature; we would be condemned. Romans chapters  6/8

 

Now that we are saved, we are to be more transformed into Christ-likeness each day. That transformation is not yet complete in any of us. We need not muddle the truth of real justice, but imagine if God said ,“Tomorrow at 1:00 P.M. I will execute perfect justice, and anyone not pure will be destroyed!”

Who will be here at 1:05 P.M. ?

The perfect judgement that should have fallen on us, has instead fallen on Christ.  I Peter 2: 21-25, Romans 4: 16-25

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David had lust, but his deeper sin was COVETOUSNESS! 

      More, more,  more!

 

Example: Ahab wanted Naboth’s  vineyard!  I Kings 21

 

God always knew Israel would want to look like the other nations and have a king, so He spoke through Moses via prophecy to established rules about it. Deuteronomy 17

(Samuel spoke in even more detail about this. I Samuel 8)

 

 Rules for the king of Israel **********************

  Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 (paraphrase)

 “Don’t multiply horses,,,wives,,,or riches. It will turn your heart away from God! Constantly study the Word of God so you know His will for you and the nation. The result will be that you will humbly rule, looking out for the good of even the most insignificant citizen-brother.”

II Samuel 12: 1-15

 

About a year goes by and David experiences the agony of guilt expressed  in Psalms 32 and 51

The man in rich man inNathan’s story must give restoration, but no death sentence for it; but David was condemned on two counts; both carry a death sentence!

Remember he is not just a warrior-king, but over the supreme courts of the land also!   II Samuel 8:15

(This is not the last time David is told a parabolic story to help a message sink into him. Though not about sin perhaps. II Samuel 14)

We are this way also, needing the indirect approach to show we condemn in others what we practice ourselves! Romans 2. So blind to what we do, we have to see ourselves through the eyes of others via a movie, story, or anything indirect.  If too direct, we just bow up and deny it or blame someone or something else! But if we follow the Spirit we confess and repent and are restored.

 

I though the sin was against Bathsheba and Uriah? 

          God really takes it personal!

 

Example: Acts 9: 4-5 

 

As in Psalms 51, all sin is ultimately, and personally against God.

There was immediate and full confession and repentance; so there was immediate forgiveness and assurance. Check Psalms 103.

 

David did not add to his sin by doing what we do many times, and that is not like the person anymore who told us the truth!

“Kill the messenger”  is usually standard practice for those who do not walk with God closely.

He loves Nathan, and Nathan stays involved with the Davidic family.

Even in David’s fall, he knows to give no excuses and accepts responsibility. He does not run away, but accepts what must now come. I feel sorry for him and what the future brings for him. He will continue to be powerfully used by the Lord.

 

READ :  II Samuel 12:21-25

 

A man cannot live without hope! The temporal judgments were severe, but He had hope!

 QUESTION: Why was David restored and not Saul?

Saul never had a heart for God. He was acted “upon” by the Spirit, but He never surrendered to have the Spirit come inside of him like David did; and of whom it was said, “the Spirit of God came on David and never departed.”

QUESTION : Why was Peter restored and not Judas?

                                        About the same answer

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Final:  The battle is real and the stakes are high! 

 

I Corinthians 10: 11-13

 

“ Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon who the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands ( the person who thinks he is a “naturally” good person) take warning so that he does not fall! No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”