"SERIOUSNESS OF SIN"

Proposition - In our text this morning we will see that God sees everything, and He calls His children to repentance and trust. Even when we sin, He (God) offers correction and forgiveness.

Interrogative Question - How does knowing that God sees everything affect the way you make decisions in your daily life?

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 12) 12:1–31 David started by breaking the tenth commandment (coveting, Ex. 20:17), then the seventh (adultery, Ex. 20:14), and then the sixth (murder, Ex. 20:13), while the Lord silently watched his behavior. Here at last the Lord calls him to account for standing above the law. Psalm 51 was composed in response to this occasion. Nathan apparently asks David to intervene in a legal matter. The “parable” (2 Sam. 12:1–4) is similar to the plea of the wise woman of Tekoa in ch. 14 and that of the prophet in 1 Kings 20:35–43. In all these cases, it is pointed out to the king that his own actions do not match his judgments.

1. God Sees Everything - vs. 1-7

2 Samuel 12:1–7 NASB95

1 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 “The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. 3 “But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb Which he bought and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him. 4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. 6 “He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.” 7 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul.

Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah.

Illustration: Imagine trying to hide a test answer from your teacher, but they already know the truth. You can’t hide from God either.

Lesson: God sees our actions and our hearts. Sin may be hidden from people, but not from God.

2. Sin Has Consequences - vs. 9-12

2 Samuel 12:9–12 NASB95

9 ‘Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ ”

CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 12) 12:10 To despise God’s command (v. 9) is to despise God; conversely, believers show their love for God by loving and keeping his commands (1Jn 5:3–4).

CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 12) 12:10–14 Nathan announced a threefold judgment on David: (1) David’s house would be continuously plagued by violence; (2) David’s wives would be taken from him and publicly violated; and (3) the child would die after birth. The third judgment was fulfilled in v. 18. The second was fulfilled by Absalom in 16:20–22. The first judgment was fulfilled in five parts: (1) between Amnon and Absalom (13:1–39); (2) between Absalom and David (15:1–18:33); (3) between Amasa and Joab (20:8–13); (4) between Adonijah and Solomon (1Kg 1:1–53; 2:13–25); and (5) between Joab and Solomon (1Kg 2:28–35). David did not get off lightly for his great sins!

David faced serious consequences for his sin, even though God forgave him spiritually.

Illustration: If you break a rule at school or at home, you may be forgiven, but there are still consequences, like detention or loss of privileges.

Lesson: God forgives, but sin can still affect our lives and the lives of others.

3. God Offers both Forgiveness and Restoration - vs. 13-23

2 Samuel 12:13–23 NASB95

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. 14 “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.” 15 So Nathan went to his house. Then the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. 16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. 18 Then it happened on the seventh day that 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 still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; 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, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ 23 “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

CSB Study Bible: Notes (Chapter 12) 12:13 David’s response—I have sinned—contrasts sharply with that of Saul when Samuel confronted him over his sin (1Sm 15:15, 20–21). Saul gave excuse after excuse, but David’s heart (1Sm 13:14) would not let him do so. Nathan assured the king that his life would be spared. Psalm 51 commemorates this event and expresses David’s repentance. Psalm 32 expresses David’s joy in being forgiven.

David repented and turned back to God, showing humility and faith.

Illustration: Like a broken phone screen that can be repaired, repentance restores our relationship with God.

Lesson: No matter what we’ve done, we can always confess our sins and trust God to help us live right.

SO WHAT?

Be honest with God about your mistakes.

Accept that sin has consequences.

Trust God’s forgiveness and strive to live for Him.

Learn from the mistakes of others, like David.