Sin and Repentance

Introduction

Home Ec. award - ashamed

Something far more shameful than walking the stage and receiving that award - the damage sin has done in my life.

I know… we’re talking about it again - but you cannot understand the hope and joy of Christian faith until you see your sin for what it is.

Some of you are under an avalanche of sin and don’t even know it. You’re numb to the damage sin has caused you.

Sobering story - the greatest man in Israel - and maybe the most tragic fall in the Bible. David, a man after God’s own heart - tragically falls into sin.

Shameful story with so much hope.

Focus in on two lessons about our relationship with sin - 1. How we fall into sin; 2. How repentance cleanses us from sin.

How we fall into sin.

A leadership vacuum in Israel until God raises up a king.

King Saul - He was everything the people wanted - tall, handsome, charismatic, etc. But, he was a terrible king - prideful.

King David - everything God wanted. He had a heart for God, humble, moldable, etc.

Extremely successful king - blessed by God, popular with people, great warrior, and great leader. Kingdom grows and expands. Would never be as large as it was under David.

- Screeching halt - shameful chapter - (Samuel or his disciples) just gives us the facts - imagine he didn’t even want to write it.

Unfinished business with Ammonites - Spring perfect time to lead a battle - warmer weather, more food, etc.

But, David stays in Jerusalem. Don’t know why. David was a warrior. He’d been on the front lines with his soldiers. Why stay? 50 years old - maybe tired of fighting. And, lots of well-trained men. Why fight? Maybe his men wanted to protect him - not risk him on the battle lines. ()

Regardless of why David is home, his soldiers are out fighting for the kingdom, and David is lounging. After a nap - walks on the roof of the palace - catch a fresh breeze.

Rooftop - fortress built on high ground - commanding view of city - he could see the into various homes.

Sees a woman bathing - not unusual - no running water - bathing outside in the courtyard.

David noticed her beauty - doesn’t turnt away but inquires. His servant subtly warns - servant knows what he is thinking - she’s married - but David sends for her. Lack of details - Did he consider how this would affect his family? (In a moment of self-centered pleasure seeking, consequences are the farthest thing from our minds…)

She doesn’t resist coming - maybe Bathsheba thought David had news about Uriah - maybe Bathsheba feared saying no - maybe she was attracted to David and his power - she goes - and sleeps with David and gets pregnant.

David does what we all do when we don’t want to get caught - he tries to cover up.

Sends for Uriah - Plan A - A night with his wife so in 9 months looks like his baby - But, Uriah is loyal to David and Israel. How can he enjoy a night at home when his fellow countrymen are putting their lives on the line? He slept at David’s front door!

Plan B - get him drunk. But, he sleeps on David’s couch and still doesn’t go home.

Plan C - Sent Uriah back to Joab with a note - a death note. Have him killed - (Send him to the front lines - and draw back the soldiers - leave him to defend himself. Unfortunately, Uriah was not the only one who died in the king’s scheme.) Now, David could take Bathsheba as his wife - look like he’s having mercy on a poor widow - David would look like a hero.

But the Lord was not pleased (vs. 27).

On the roof - David looked, lusted - the lust led to a series of sins that culminated in murder.

David never thought he could end up a murderer - You’ve seen your poor choices lead you to a place where you never thought you would end up. But, sin can lead you down a path of destruction. The seeds of sin lie deep in your heart, and if you allow them to take root, they will overtake you. How do you get to a point where you can commit such serious sins?

Blessing overload - You can fall at anytime - but you are especially vulnerable when everything is well. You are not as dependent on God. You become self-sufficient. You slip in your time with the Lord. For David, massive army, people singing his praises, unmatched power - blessing overload. What about you? You’re blessed - instead of thanking God and pressing in, you take your eyes off of Him. Be careful!

Mission Disengagement - David was bored. He was disengaged from the battlefield. You fall into sin because you are bored - you’ve disengaged from what God created you and saved you for - to know Him and make Him known. When you are bored with God, everything looks better than what your supposed to be doing. Don’t believe it! It’s time for some of us to reengage. The more you pursue God and His mission the more enticing He becomes and the less enticing sin becomes.

Limited Boundaries - David had no boundaries. Everything was at his disposal - when you can have everything you’ll go after everything. Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” yet we willingly put ourselves in tempting situations rather than saying, “For the sake of my soul I’m not going there...” We consume media that allures us into sin, we pursue friendships with the opposite sex when we know it’s dangerous, we have no accountability for how we view the internet. Know where your greatest temptations lie and set up appropriate boundaries. Legalism or common sense?

(Flying to Israel - Guarding their country - Guard your heart. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23)

How Repentance Renews us From Our Sin

God was displeased, so he sends a prophet, Nathan, to confront David.

Note - Nathan’s wisdom. He doesn’t say - “David, I know what you did.” Rather, he tells a story - he wants David to come to his own conclusion about his guilt. Why? Nathan knew David could 1. Deny it (I didn’t do it) 2. make excuses (my wife not…), 3. blame-shift (she shouldn’t have been outside naked)

Instead - A rich man had as many lambs as he wanted, but he saw a poor man had one little lamb. He wanted it - take the poor man’s lamb and prepare a feast for his guest. David appalled - “The man deserves to die and the victim should be compensated fourfold...”

Nathan - “You are the man… You can expect turmoil in your house...”

David - “I have sinned against the Lord...” Nathan - “The Lord has put away your sin, you shall not die.”

David comes face to face with his sins and repents. Repentance = turn from sin and run to God’s grace. He doesn’t run away from God even though there were severe consequences for his sins - his family unravels. You can too! ()

David doesn’t do what we often do. He doesn’t 1. deny his sin.

- written in response to this event - shows us the heart of a repentant person:

Honest (51:1-3) - I know it - I can’t explain it away - I need mercy - I need cleansing. Your mercy is my only hope for getting past the pain of sin. David knew that his problem was far deeper than one occasion of sin (vs. 5).

Directed (51:4) - Against you, you only. David had sinned against a lot of people - but primarily God. He said the same thing we all do when we sin, “God, you’re not good enough for me. I need more.” Your sin hurts everyone around you, but your sin begins with a heart that is not satisfied with God.

Hopeful (51:7) - “God, you are in the business of renewal.” Hyssop - Passover - used to spread blood. Also, used to cleanse leprosy - dipped into the blood of sacrificial animal and sprinkled on a person with leprosy. David “Wash me with blood.” - If only David knew that’s exactly what God would do - God would ultimately wash us all with the blood of the Lamb.

The blood of Jesus applied to us to cleanse us.

As David is honest about his sin and cries out - He’s renewed. When you repent:

Renewed fellowship - (vs. 8-11) - vs. 8 - my sin has broken me, but you can cause me to rejoice. Clean heart means able to fellowship with God. For David, sin stood in the way of intimacy with God.

Renewed joy - (vs. 12) - the shame and guilt removed - reassured of God’s love for you. You lack joy in God? What sin is keeping you from joy?

Renewed purpose - (vs. 13) - God uses repentant people. Hard to be used by God when you are being defiant to God. Come clean.

- David cries out for salvation - ultimately - Jesus - the King of kings from the lineage of David would bring the salvation we all need.

David before Nathan - “You are the man.” You are guilty. Jesus before Pilate - “Behold the man” () - Pilate found no guilt in Jesus because He was not guilty.

God could look at every one of us and say, “You are the man...” You are guilty. But instead, at the cross, God puts His Son on display and says, “Behold the man.” Behold the One who lived and died for us so that we could be completely forgiven and brought into eternal fellowship. So we can have the assurance that the blood of Christ has covered all our sins. Do you know the One who lived and died for you?

This morning - you feel the shame but you don’t have to. Joy can be yours. Fellowship can be yours. Purpose can be yours. I want this for you - because I know God can use repentant people. More than I want this for you, God wants this for you. He wants you to delight in Him.

Maybe - you feel like David - You know the exact sin - it’s made a mess of your life - Today start picking up the pieces and let God help you clean up that mess.

Maybe not an audacious sin - no adultery, etc. - but lots of seemingly little sins - apathy, refusing to let go of anger and hurt, gossip, etc.

How would your life change if you were just honest about your sin and dealt with it? How would our church change if we were honest?