David & Bathsheba: Example in Failure

INTRODUCTION

In our culture, everybody is under a microscope — especially if you’re in the public eye.

Result: Common to see stories of people’s failures.

Back in Bible times, this wasn’t common.

In fact, they tried to COVER stories of leaders and heroes who failed.

If the Bible was written to glorify man, this story wouldn’t have been included.

Instead, written to glorify God. That means that even the stories of failure have a purpose.

The purpose of this story is to serve as a giant warning sign to us.

What do warning signs/labels do? They tell us what to avoid.

Story? David and Bathsheba

READ: 2 Samuel 11.

PRAY

Obviously this is a story of catastrophic failure in David’s life.

David is an example to us for how we can often avoid temptation.

1. David wasn’t where he was supposed to be.

Look at v.1....

Spring was optimal time for war. Crops were growing, which meant they didn’t need as much manpower in the fields.

Therefore, the men could go fight.

So, in the spring, kings generally went to war.

Notice what David did.... STAYED IN JERUSALEM.

David’s already out of place, but maybe it was for good reason… keep reading.

V. 2....

It’s afternoon and David is just now getting out of bed.

Conclusion? David’s being lazy. He’s avoiding his responsibilities as king.

David’s shirking of responsibility sets him up for disaster.

Nothing good comes from being somewhere where you’re not supposed to be.

2. Instead of fleeing temptation, David flirted with it.

V. 3...

IMPORTANT: Nothing suggests that Bathsheba did anything to intentionally entice David.

The palace was probably the highest point in Jerusalem. Meaning, David walking on the roof would have been able to see whatever he wanted.

Bathsheba actually should have had reasonable confidence in privacy…most men were away at war. If they were home, it was the middle of the day. Most people would have been working somewhere.

Nonetheless, David sees her bathing.

There are any number of solutions David could have taken to escalating the situation.

Instead, he allows his lust to take root and lead him to action…he inquires about her.

But he doesn’t stop there...

David’s entertaining of temptation took him well past noticing a beautiful woman. It consumed him until he acted on it.

V. 4

It was just looking, until it wasn’t.

Inevitably, when we flirt with temptation instead of running from it, we’re going to give in eventually.

If you’re trying to see how close to the line you can get without crossing it, you’re going to end up crossing it.

Instead, the Bible tells us to stay as far away from the line as possible — don’t see how close you can get without it being “sin”, just stay away altogether.

3. David didn’t own his mistake.

The rest of chapter 11 is David trying to cover up what he’s done.

Explain the cover ups

Eventually, David gets deeper and deeper in lies and desperation, and essentially arranges the murder of Uriah.

Instead of repenting, David basically ties to fix things himself to avoid consequences.

We try to “fix” things on our own.

We cover sin up in order to avoid consequences.

We try to do enough “good things” to outweigh the “bad.”

Some combination of both.

Thomas breaking TV

Here’s the good news...

We don’t have to “fix” things ourselves — we can’t

Even David, if we look at the next chapter, is confronted with his sin, repents, and is restored.

He would go on to be called a man after God’s heart.

When you find yourself in a position like David, you’ve allowed temptation to get the best of you....

There’s grace and forgiveness available.

1 John 1:9 CSB

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

TAKEAWAYS

1. Often, sin starts when we neglect our responsibilities.

“Idle hands are the devil’s play thing.”

Not talking about resting.

There’s a difference in rest and laziness, or avoiding the things we’re responsible for.

Skipping class

Avoiding homework

On the phone late when you’re supposed to be sleeping.

Putting off chores.

Can be spiritual as well...

Not staying in the Word

Not in prayer

Not in church

Neglecting the things we’re supposed to be doing creates a hole for temptation to slip into.

2. Instead of flirting with temptation, run from it.

David could have averted his eyes and left well enough alone.

When we flirt with temptation — see how close we can get without sinning, it festers and grows.

Eventually, it wins out and breaks us down.

Good news? God gives us a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 CSB

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

The bad news? It may not be the way we want.

Fireproof, computer scene.

Sometimes it takes drastic measures to avoid temptation, but the Bible tells us that drastic measures are necessary.

We’re to flee from temptation — literally run from it.

3. Ignoring/Hiding sin inevitably leads to more sin.