How David Reacted to Sin

HOW DAVID REACTED TO SIN

Acts 13:17-23

First thing we typically think of when we think of David: Bathsheba. But there is nothing said of David’s great sin within the New Testament. Why is that? I think it’s because he dealt with his sin. There is a reason why he was “a man after God’s own heart”. David was a great man (King Arthur inspiration?), but he was far from perfect. However, it wasn’t that he was perfect – only that he was penitent.

He Did His Best To Avoid It

In the early days after David was anointed, King Saul did his best to make David’s life miserable.

He tried to kill David at least 11 times.

1 Samuel 18:11 – Saul throws a spear at David.

1 Samuel 18:17,21 – Saul plots against David by using his older daughter, and then younger daughter as bait for David to be killed by the Philistines (blows up in his face, v.27).

1 Samuel 19:1 – Saul orders his servants to kill David.

1 Samuel 19:10 – Saul throws another spear at David.

1 Samuel 19:11 – Saul sends messengers to kill David.

1 Samuel 19:15 – Saul sends messengers to bring David to him so that he can kill David.

1 Samuel 19:20,21 - Saul sends messengers to kill David two more times.

1 Samuel 19:22 – Saul goes himself in an attempt to kill David.

1 Samuel 23:15 – Saul seeks David in the wilderness of Ziph and Horesh.

1 Samuel 26:2 – Saul seeks David again in the Ziph wilderness.

This is some intense pressure! What would we do in this situation?

David had two opportunities to end these problems and easily take the throne.

If someone handed you a solution to your problems that did not glorify God, what would you do?

1 Samuel 24:1-7, 10 - David did not kill the man that God had placed as King.

This might seem odd, especially since God had already told Saul that his reign was going to end because he would not serve God.

1 Samuel 13:13-14 5. We have no way of knowing whether David knew of this exchange, but even if he didn’t, nowhere do we see David given a command to kill Saul.

1 Samuel 26:7-11 – David is given a second chance to kill Saul, and he doesn’t even have to do it himself!

He keeps Abishai from doing this – why? Because Saul was still the king that God had anointed to lead Israel.

This is what authority is all about. God didn’t ask for it, so David will not do it.

If we want to avoid sin, we must be prepared to do no less than what God asks for.

Even when Saul is dead, David is not happy about it.

2 Samuel 1:5-16 – David is free from this pressure of Saul seeking his death, and even has the crown at his disposal – but this doesn’t make him joyful.

This is because David was not seeking what he wanted – he knows what the will of God is, and he intends to do the will of God, no matter what.

Jesus was the same way – “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 5:30)

Psalms 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

When It Was His Sin, He Admitted It

There was one time that David did NOT do his best to avoid sin.

The sin with Bathsheba and the following plot to kill Uriah (2 Samuel 11)

A couple of things to note:

David was at home when he likely should have been in the field of battle with his men (11:1)

David pushed for an opportunity to meet with Bathsheba, when it should have ended there (11:2-5)

There are many great lessons to learn from these events, but for our purposes today, we must understand that despite all of David’s great achievements, he was still a man with the desires of a man.

Nathan showed David the sin that he had committed.

2 Samuel 12:1-15

Hard to believe that David didn’t realize the grievous error he had done. However, it is likely he was justifying it in his own mind.

In essence, Nathan told David, “You could have had anyone you wanted, but you took what belonged to someone else.”

Notable that David, with his sin fully revealed, says “I have sinned against the LORD.” (v.13) – perhaps even a realization of the depth of this terrible thing!

David continued to seek the will of God in dealing with this great sin.

Psalm 38 – David is “plagued” with his great sin.

Psalm 32 – David is joyful over being forgiven of this sin.

What a Godly example for us!

He Remained “A Man After God’s Own Heart” (Psalm 51)

A man who sought God’s mercy (1-6)

A man who sought God’s cleansing (7-13)

A man who sought God’s pleasure (13-19)