WICKED HEART
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1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.
5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”
6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David.
7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing.
8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.
9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.
10 When David heard that Uriah had not gone home, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”
11 Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.”
12 “Well, stay here today,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next.
13 Then David invited him to dinner and got him drunk. But even then he couldn’t get Uriah to go home to his wife. Again he slept at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard.
14 So the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.
15 The letter instructed Joab, “Station Uriah on the front lines where the battle is fiercest. Then pull back so that he will be killed.”
16 So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the city wall where he knew the enemy’s strongest men were fighting.
17 And when the enemy soldiers came out of the city to fight, Uriah the Hittite was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.
18 Then Joab sent a battle report to David.
19 He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king.
20 But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls?
21 Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’ ”
22 So the messenger went to Jerusalem and gave a complete report to David.
23 “The enemy came out against us in the open fields,” he said. “And as we chased them back to the city gate,
24 the archers on the wall shot arrows at us. Some of the king’s men were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.”
25 “Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!”
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.
27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.
1 So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.
2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.
3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.
4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”
5 David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!
6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.
8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.
9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.
10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.
12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.
14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”
15 After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife.
16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground.
17 The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.
18 Then on the seventh day the child died. David’s advisers were afraid to tell him. “He wouldn’t listen to reason while the child was ill,” they said. “What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?”
19 When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
20 Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the Lord. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.
21 His advisers were amazed. “We don’t understand you,” they told him. “While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.”
22 David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’
23 But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
2 sam 11.1 -
1. The Deceptive Human Heart
1. The Deceptive Human Heart
Yes, our human heart!!!
The world tells us to follow our heart and its the WORST ADVICE EVER!!!
OUR HEARTS ARE NATURALLY WICKED - and even the REDEEMED HEART is not one to trust!
We trust the TRUTH and ABSOLUTES of GOD’s WORD - not our heart and emotions!
Years ago there was a song Debbie Boone sand - it had the line...
“it can’t be wrong, when it feels so right… - you light up my life” This was not a discussion about loving God, but the love of man and woman, and obviously outside the boundaries of what God says is wrong...
It was putting feeling and emotion, and the heart, above the Word of God in our lives! Totally missing the mark.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
20 The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.
Even in the apocryphal books it talks about the waywardness of man’s heart...
22 but all of us followed the intent of our own wicked hearts by serving other gods and doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord our God.
45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
In this case - we see a King, and the Bible calls him a MAN AFTER GOD’s HEART...
There is a lesson that even a righteous man who is passionate for God can make UNWISE choices and be led away.
The world tells us to follow our heart and its the WORST ADVICE EVER!!!
OUR HEARTS ARE NATURALLY WICKED - and even the REDEEMED HEART is not one to trust!
What a warning to not allow pride to take over in our lives...
We trust the TRUTH and ABSOLUTES of GOD’s WORD - not our heart and emotions!
18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
pr 16.18
David here is in a place of rest (which can be dangerous) - the enemy catches us when we are unaware and tempts us...
In this place of rest - AND POSSIBLY EVEN BOREDOM —
(David used to be at battle and while the armies are at war he is in his palace chilling out, relaxing, being unproductive in life and finds his mind and his eyes straying!)
This is a warning to us, after we have worked hard, be aware that we are susceptible at rest to the temptations that may come...
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
Temptation starts in our OWN DESIRES --- OUR DESIRES COME FROM THE HEART!!!
They pull us in and drag us away - until we give into sin....
David in his boredom saw a woman naked on a roof going to bath - he should have turned around then and there and left it, but his heart was calling out to take what was not his...
David had a tendency to lust after women - in his day men took many wives and concubines if you had wealth and means or power…
God never approved these choices, and generally they led to difficulties and dis functionality…
David got used to options, only this time his option belonged to another man!
His sin was not just lust, but fornication, adultery with someone else’s wife, theft, pride, abuse of power, murder, deceit and more..
Those actions led to greater actions - trying to deceive her husband and ultimately committing murder of many lives to try and cover HIS FAILURES!!!
23 But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.
2. The Power of Choice
2. The Power of Choice
IF our hearts are wicked, than we are doomed!!!!!
NO
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
God has given us the power of choice, and when our hearts are REDEEMED - the Holy Spirit brings gentle conviction, that still small voice that says no...
WE HAVE TO CHOOSE TO LISTEN AND OBEY AND WALK IN OBEDIENCE!
Your spouse cannot force you, your parents cannot force you, your employer cannot force you --- WE EACH CHOOSE and MUST GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO GOD SOMEDAY!
That conviction is there to lead us on right paths --- we discover that God’s WORD is the greatest tool to direct our path and when we ACT UPON IT we will make wise choices.
The prophet Nathan, after revealing to David his sin - tells him of consequences because he gave UTTER COTEMPT for the word of the LORD...
14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord by doing this, your child will die.”
Church - every choice is our own, and we can CONVINCE ourselves it is ok to sin, JUSTIFIED to sin, forgivable to sin --- but when we show contempt for the WORD OF GOD in our lives, consequences follow...
3. The Unavoidable Consequence of Sin
3. The Unavoidable Consequence of Sin
Our behavior and choices have consequences!
David’s actions show this greatly...
the child dies
his own family has division (as he divided his family and set this example to his sons)
his authority is challenged by Absalom (as he disregarded the authority of Urriah over his own household)
his own son takes his wives and concubines publicly disgracing his father as he took what was not his
the outcome of his future relations with Bathsheeba would bring division amongst the kingdom from their offspring
BUT David repented
David was forgiven
YES!!!
God forgives and pardons when we repent, but we set in order the natural laws of reaping and sowing. We have planted seeds in the lives of children, grandchildren and others around us from our actions --- and consequences play out whether from the law, or general circumstances or taught behavior to others
5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.
8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
4. The AMAZING Restorative Grace of God
4. The AMAZING Restorative Grace of God
Yet, God forgives!
David continued to be King, he actually married Bathsheeba (to many others disapproval I am sure) and he has another son.
God’s grace does bring restoration --
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
God desires our repentant hearts and He does reward them.
David was fully aware that some consequences he could not change, but he could move forward with right choices and choosing to honor God.
Many after having a failure, give up and say I am no good, God can never change me - I am doomed.
BOLOGNEY!
God restored David and can restore you as well.
He can create a clean heart and make is sensitive to His WORD and His WILL once again...
You do not have to remain in a condemned state of sin and judgment. MOVE FORWARD in the AMAZING GRACE OF GOD!
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
This morning, let us realize
Our hearts are wicked and if unguarded will entice us to sin
Wise choices can be made when we surrender ourselves to the truth of God’s Word
Consequences occur from decisions and behaviors we make
Grace restores and releases us to move forward
God tells the sinful, unfaithful nation of Israel the same message by the prophet Ezekiel...
19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,
Ez 11.19
again in
26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
The Lord is here today to give you a new heart and make yours tender and responsive to HIM!
Years ago there was a song Debbie Boone sand - it had the line...
“it can’t be wrong, when it feels so right… - you light up my life” This was not a discussion about loving God, but the love of man and woman, and obviously outside the boundaries of what God says is wrong...
It was putting feeling and emotion, and the heart, above the Word of God in our lives! Totally missing the mark.