New Year New Hope - David

New Hope After a Time of Sin

Today we look at another character in Scripture who needed a new beginning and a new hope. Paul needed a new beginning from a lifetime of rebellion against God, and God gave him that new beginning when he was converted on Damascus Road. But today we look at another character who already knew the Lord, but made some poor decisions and fell into sin. King David is known in Scripture as “a man after God’s own heart”, but one day King David made some poor decisions that led him down a path he shouldnt have gone down. King David committed some gross sins. King David needed a new beginning after a time of sin.

I. David’s Sin (2 Samuel 11)

Most of us, if not all of us, are familiar with David’s sin. But lets take a closer look at it

A. When Did it Happen? (11:1)

“After the year was expired” - right after the new year

B. How Did it Happen? (11:1)

“At the time when kings go forth to battle…But David tarried in Jerusalem” - David was supposed to be out in the battlefield with his troops, but instead, David decided to stay home in his palace.

We are often tempted to sin when we are not where we are supposed to be. We are also often tempted to sin when we are idle and not doing what we are supposed to be doing. “Idle time is the Devil’s playground”

C. Why Did it Happen? (11:2)

“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house” - The verb “walked” suggests that David was pacing back and forth on the roof. He couldnt sleep and was uneasy… because he knew he wasnt where God wanted him to be.

“He saw a woman washing herself” - there is little doubt that the woman acted immodestly. Though it was evening time and a time when most people were asleep, certainly she knew that her bath was visible from the King’s roof. This does not excuse David’s actions, however, she is not blameless in it either.

David’s sin was not in seeing Bathsheba. It is unlikely he planned on seeing her. David’s sin was in choosing to keep his eyes on an alluring image after the sight came before his eyes.

There are times where things come into our sight that we were not looking for and we had no control over seeing it, that is not sin. What IS sin is if you continue to look and keep your eyes and mind upon it. This is where David committed his first sin.

D. What Happened?

David did not remove his gaze from Bathsheba - The 1st sin

David then acted upon the temptation with Bathsheba (they both were married btw) - the 2nd sin

Bathsheba is then with child with David. So David wants to cover it up. He calls for Uriah to come home and spend time with his wife so it looks as if the baby is Uriah’s, but David’s plan fails. David then, in desperation, commands Uriah to be put into the front lines of the hottest battle and just left to fend for himself (AKA Murdered) - the 3rd sin

Chapter 11 ends with a sobering sentence about the actions of King David “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord”

II. David’s Repentance (2 Samuel 12:1-7, 13)(Psalm 51)

Almost a year later, God sends the prophet Nathan unto David to confront David about what he had done

A. God’s Confrontation

2 Samuel 12:1-7.

God did not forget the sins of David, and now God was going to confront him with it.

Being chastened by God is an unpleasant thing, but it is a needful thing. We are not perfect and we are not always right, so sometimes, we need the correction of the Lord. God’s chastening is also a sign that we are truly saved.

God always uses His Word to confront sin in our lives (Hebrews 4:12)

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

B. David’s Misery (Psalm 32:3-4)

Psalm 32:3–4 KJV 1900

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

v. 3 = The stress of unconfessed sin made him feel old, oppressed, and dry.

v. 4 = His misery was directly connected to the oppression of unresolved sin and rebellion against God. David seemed to ache under the result of his sin (guilt and the lack of true fellowship with God) more than the sin itself.

“God’s hand is very helpful when it uplifts, but it is awful when it presses down” - Spurgeon

But David’s chastening was a good thing. They demonstrated that he was in fact a son of God, and that the covenant God would not allow him to remain comfortable in habitual or unconfessed sin. One who feels no misery or dryness in such a state has far greater concerns for time and eternity.

C. David’s Repentance (Psalm 51) (Psalm 32:5)(2 Samuel 12:13)

David then confesses his sin unto the Lord. It was more than just him being sorry for being caught, he was truly sorry for what he had done to the Lord and to other people for the selfishness of sin.

Read all 3 passages

2 Samuel 12:13… “thou shalt not die” this shows us the incredible mercy of our God! When David heard Nathan’s story, he became so infuriated that he said that the rich man that stole the lamb deserved to die. But then David realizes that the story was actually about him. But God’s response was different, it was full of Grace and Mercy. God said “heres your sin, repent of it” and David did. Then God reassures David “thou shalt not die”. Thank God He is more merciful than you and I are!

D. David’s Punishment

Although God did have mercy upon David, He still had to punish the sin. David’s infant child with Bathsheba dies as a result.

Sin always has consequences that we dont realize until afterwards!

III. David’s New Beginning (Psalm 32)

God gave David a new son, named Solomon! (2 Samuel 12:24)

He also did not sit in the guilt of what he did once he was forgiven. He confessed it, was forgiven, and moved on

David continued to reign upon the throne and prospered.

David enjoyed the blessedness of being forgiven and in right relationship with God (Psalm 32)

Conclusion

Are there any sins in your heart that you did in the last 12 months that you have left unconfessed? Let God search you and let God chasten you.

Proverbs 28:13 KJV 1900

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

If you know of any unconfessed sin in your heart, take some time right now to confess it to the Lord and get it right with Him. Confessing your sins is simply agreeing with God about what you have done. Seeing it the way He sees it and realizing what it has done to God and to others and expressing genuine remorse for those things. Repentance is then asking God to help you change your mind and turn away from those things

Finally, If you have sinned, and you have confessed it and made it right with God, dont continue to live in the guilt of what you’ve done. God has given you a new beginning, a new hope, a new chance to keep living for Him and serving Him. And if you fail again tomorrow, you can do it all over again, for His mercies are new every morning! New Year, New Hope!