THE EFFECTS OF THE LUST OF THE FLESH
2 Samuel 11 and 12
DAMAGED BY THE LUST OF THE FLESH
V: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.
2 One 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, 3 and 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?" 4 Then 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. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, "I am pregnant."
Between a man and a woman, love does not always lead to sex. And sex is not always an act of
Love. Sex was designed by God to be one of bonds between a man and a woman. Its primary
objective is the population of the earth through the development of family (Genesis 1:28)
Sex outside of the bonds of marriage can lead to broken hearts and can be devastating.
This is a story of power, sin, and redemption. David a man after God's own heart, committed
murder to cover his lustful sin. There is some bad in the best of us, and good in the worst
of us. God allows us to sin, but uses it to chasten us, strengthen, and make us better,
WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME
David the king was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He should have been on the battlefield
leading Israel to victory over the Ammonites. Instead, he was in the palace on the rooftop, not
planning the next step of the battle or in prayer, but idly looking around. It proves the statement
that an idle mind is the devil's workshop.
As king, David had his choice of any beautiful unmarried woman in the nation. Because his
mind was not focused on the Lord’s work, he failed to the lust of his eyes. He saw Bathsheba
bathing and had to have her. He inquired who she was and knew she was the wife of one of his
faithful warriors. His lust controlled him, he called her to Him had sex with her, and sent her
home.
According to verse 11:4, Bathsheba was a righteous woman. Before leaving the palace
she purified herself from her uncleanness. God was with her
King David committed adultery. He broke God’s command (Exodus 20:14). The penalty
of adultery with another man's wife was death (Leviticus 20:14). Probably reminded
of God’s Law, he made plans to cover sin.
COVERING SIN LEADS TO MORE SIN
His sex with Bathsheba was no big deal until she informed the king that she was pregnant
with his child. David did not deny that he was the father but concocted a plan to conceal
his sin. He called Uriah from the battled field with the hope that he would rest and have
sex with Bathsheba. The plan failed because Uriah the Hittite was devoted first to God, to the
King, and to the nation of Israel. He slept outside his house because he believed it was not
right while the men were risking their lives in battle. David tried to entice Uriah to sleep
with his wife by keeping him from battle another day. Uriah stayed true to his conviction and
slept outside his home.
Covering your sin causes you to commit more sin. David the King of Israel not considering
his faithful servant, Bathsheba or his baby sent Uriah back into the battle with a message to
his commander to put Uriah on the front line without the protection of the army to
be killed. Not only did David sin, but he involved others in his sin. Your sin affects others
and never succeeds. Sin unchecked, produces greater sin. David now had the sin
of adultery and the planned unnecessary death of a faith servant on his conscience.
David covered his sin from the nation but was in plain sight of the Lord. Not once did
he considers himself sinful.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
God will not allow your sin to go unchecked. He makes you know the severity of sin and
chasten you for your sin. The chastening of God is out of His mercy and love for you.
God sent Nathan the prophet with a life example that caused David to judge himself.
The story of a poor man’s beloved sheep was presented to David. The poor man only
had one sheep that he loved and treated as his child.
The rich man who had many sheep stole the poor man’s sheep to feed His friend.
David was asked by the prophet what should be done to the rich man. David burned
with anger and said the rich man should be killed. The prophet told David, he was that man.
David awakened to his sin and confessed his sin before the Lord. His sins were forgiven.
Confession of your sins does not eliminate the consequences of your sin. Lord reminded
David of what He had done for him. Because David betrayed the trust of the Lord, the
son he had with Bathsheba out of adultery died. What David did in secret to Uriah
was done to him in public. In addition the rest of his time as king was troubled
by the enemy.
OUT OF TRAGEDY COMES BLESSING
As strange as it may seem, David’s adultery with Bathsheba was allowed by God.
According to verse 11:4, Bathsheba was a righteous woman. Before leaving the
palace, she purified herself of her uncleanliness. David married her and she was
the mother of Solomon, the wisest man on earth. Bathsheba and David had four sons
In summary, God knows your sins. They will not go unpunished.
What you do to others will be done to you as a reminder of your sin.
God is merciful, He will forgive and He will punish you according to your sin.
God has a plan for your life. His discipline for your disobedience is designed
to correct you, strengthen you, and get you prepared to do His will
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