What to Do When We've Sinned Against the Lord
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
How many of you have spent time wrestling in prayer with God over something? How about your sin?
God wants us to wrestle with Him because it leads to our fellowship with Him and dependence on Him.
What about when you’ve sinned against God? Have you ever messed up and felt so much grief over it that it drove you to prayer and laying before God in stillness and silence?
15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”
19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”
20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him
25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.
28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.”
29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.
31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Pray.
Recap
David’s Sin
David’s Misery
David’s Confession
There is no question from whom this sickness against the child has come.
1. David Prayed and Sought the Lord (v.16)
1. David Prayed and Sought the Lord (v.16)
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
We’ve already seen David’s confession
Now we see what David does.
David sought God in a prayer campaign for the child
This is more than a quick prayer to the Lord. This is wrestling with God in prayer and anguish
Illustration
Application:
Who are you in anguish over in prayer?
2. David Fasted and Humbled Himself (v.16-17)
2. David Fasted and Humbled Himself (v.16-17)
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
David fasted while He prayed
Fasting shows God the seriousness of our sins
Fasting also shows us the need for God -> we place our focus on God and not food
David also prostrated himself before God.
Does our posture reflect our heart before God?
Application
How dependent are you really on God?
3. David Worshiped the Lord (vv.18-23)
3. David Worshiped the Lord (vv.18-23)
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”
19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”
20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.”
22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Even after the outcome of what happened, David worshiped
Conclusion
Grace that was given
Then - v.24
24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him
25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
Solomon is not just any son, but would be included in the line of David
David is also given victory over Rabbah
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.
28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.”
29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.
31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
