2 Samuel 11:1-6

Vbs Meeting today

Men’s breakfast - Sat

Intro: We’ve been looking at the life of King David who is one of the greatest hero’s in all the bible, and today we’re gonna see one of his greatest downfalls

One of the most interesting things about the bible is that it doesn’t spare it’s hero’s from embarrassment…

Last week began to journey through , but we didn’t finish that chapter all of the way so what we’re gonna do is pick up where we left off last week...

Noah got drunk

Abraham was a bad Husband

Jacob played favorites with his sons

And here the Man after God’s own heart…do something unthinkable

App: This not only speaks of the bible’s realism, but it speaks of God’s grace

Now Last week began to journey through , but we didn’t finish that chapter all of the way so what we’re gonna do is pick up where we left off last week…read the rest of that chapter make a few observations and then move on to chapter 11

Recap: So a war has broken out amongst the Ammonites and Israel and last week we talked about some of the elements that that caused war to break out, and how they are will have the same effect to today…poor counsel, harsh actions, prideful stubbornness, and complicated people…these elements were all involved in the war breaking out…but the ret of the chapter describes how Israel got the upper hand

So at this point: Joab is heading up the attack for Israel and they are have enemies in the front and the back of them…how are they gonna be victorious in that battle?…let’s read the whole thing

2 sam 10:9-

2 Samuel 10:9–19 ESV

9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

3 things we see in the way Israel fought…and gained the upper hand in this battle

Joab said in v. 11 “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you” Though they were 2 different men, leading 2 different battalions…their was a recognition that they were fight the same war against the same enemy…and they best chance they had was to fight together

App: Some goes for us

“If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

v.12 “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” You can have a plan, the ability, the calling, all that you need to win the battles in your life, but if you don’t have the courage…you’ll step out into the battle

Theres gonna be some days where, you’re gonna not gonna feel like being courageous…but it’s not a feeling it’s a choice

16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came too Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him - In every battle of this life, it’s important for believers to know that we don’t need to fight alone…we have a king, and not only is he capable of fighting, he wants to battle for us… so invite our king in, when we do that our battles become his battles…and his power becomes ours...

leading into the next chapter…the Syrians were defeated and left the battle, but the Ammonites were still at large and the war continues

Intro: Now, there are many times this book were David is a beautiful foreshadowing of Jesus, but in this chapter, that resemblance is crushed…today we’re gonna see the most notorious sin that is connected to the name of David

G.

“In the whole of the Old Testament literature there is no chapter more tragic or full of solemn and searching warning than this.” (G. Campbell Morgan)

(Prop) This will serve as a sobering reminder for us today about the destructive capabilities of sin...

Illustrate: In Georgia there’s this huge bolder named “stone mountain” and their was a young man a while back who was walking at the top of the bolder, now the curvature of the bolder is almost indiscernible…and this young man was moving further and further to the edge unaware of how much danger he was in until…It happened…he stepped too far, and gravity too over…and he fell to his death In that same way, because david was where he shouldn’t have been…doing what he shouldn’t have been doing…he was essentally moving closer and closer to the to the edge

Now, we’re gonna see this in steps...

And the first steps toward this fall were taking long before this chapter came about - David had a problem with women

But with all that said it’s important to know that this sin had it’s origins way before chapter 11...What am I talking about? David has already shown us that his weakness was always women

God had given rules for anyone who would be king over Israel

Deuteronomy 17:16–17 ESV

16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

And think about this…David kept the first and last like a boss!

He dedicated the spoils of war to the building of the temple…win

He limited how many horses he himself owned…win

Now Wives…we’ll thats a different story

He had like 8 of them… and a bunch of concubines and this showed something…He had a issue with women…and restraining his passions

App: It’s important to know your weaknesses because Satan does, and if those things are left unrepeated of…don’t be surprised if those things are your downfall

Now we jump into this passage and we’re only gonna look at the first 5 verses today...

2 Samuel 11:1 ESV

1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 sam 11:

So we finished the last chapter reading that David himself led the army of Israel against that Syrian Army…and made essentally beat them into submission to the point where the Syrians were unwilling to help out the Ammonites…so David goes home, but theirs still a war going on with the Ammonites, and it was the time of year where kings were supposed to be on the battle field…this would have been the time of year where the crops would have been fully grown so the men wouldn’t have had to work the fields, and the best time for the king to be with his army was when they were at their full strentgh...

Notice a few things

David is coming off an incredible success - Victories against the philistines, the moabites, the Syrians, and now the not to mention moral victories like mephibosheth

It’s easy to see David at this time and say “Man, he can do no wrong”

App: It’s in those seasons you want to on your guard the most, the seasons where everyone is telling you that you could do no wrong, be carful if they say that because you might just start to believe that and pride comes before a fall

David should have been out their with his men…but he wasn’t - How do we know that? because the text “this was the time when kings go out into battle…but David remained at Jerusalem”

Winter was too wet…chariots got stuck, summer was too hot…but the spring was the perfect time for war

The crops were fully grown so the men who usually had to farm could fight so the army would be at full force...

when your doing what you should be doing you will not have the time to go and do what you shouldn’t be doing

But instead of Battleing…He was kicking back

But instead he was at home with nothing but and idle mind and idle time…and when your doing what you should be doing you will not have the time to go and do what you shouldn’t be doing

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Gal

GAL 6:

App: I think in a very practical sense…when we occupy ourselves with the things God has called you to do... you will have less time to things that God hasn’t called you to do

We were ment to be busy with God’s work

There’s

Pre-fall Adam and Eve had Jobs - The garden

but here we see where it all starts….He’s in the wrong place…and here’s the next thing

but here we see where it all starts….He’s in the wrong placeStep 2 - He was looking at the wrong thing

We are usually at our best when we’re working - You are at your best when you put in a full days work and go to bed tired…it can be one of the things that keeps you out of trouble

But with all that said it’s important to know that this sin of David’s had it’s origins way before David met

But with all that said it’s important to know that this sin had it’s origins way before chapter 11...What am I talking about? David has already shown us that his weakness was always women

What am I talking about? God had given rules for anyone who would be king over Israel

God had given rules for anyone who would be king over Israel

Deuteronomy 17:16–17 ESV

16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

And think about this…David kept 1 and 3 like a boss!

He dedicated the spoils of war to the building of the temple…win

He limited how many horses he himself owned…win

Now Wives…we’ll thats a different stroy

He had like 8 of them…and this showed something…He had a issue with women…and restraining his passions

App: It’s important to know your weaknesses because Satan does, and if those things are left unrepeated of…don’t be surprised if those things are your downfall

2 Samuel 11:2 ESV

2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.

A few things here:

So not only is David in the wrong place, at the wrong time, but he was also looking at the wrong thing...

In this part of the world roofs are flat - and David’s roof would have been the highest one of all

As he’s meandering around his roof he sees this beautiful women who’s bathing on her roof…and v.4 tell us that she was purifying herself from her uncleaness - that would be a reference to her bathing after her period so that she could be considered ceremonially pure

So there was absolutely no chance that she would be pregnant with her Husbands baby…because on her period and he’s at war

So He’s on her roof and he saw a women bathing…and she was beautiful

Now here’s a big question: Was she trying to Seduce David?

The bible doesn’t clearly say - But if like to investigate things like this there are 3 things we know for sure..

But if like to investigate things like this there are 3 things we know for sure..

She was bathing on her roof - That sounds harmless enough…until you remember that people’s houses in this time didn’t have water…it was usually at a well…most people would have bathed downstairs…could this be intentional?

She was at the time in her period where she was least likely to become pregnant - In those days there were 2 ways of getting caught cheating…caught in the act, or pregnancy…so the timing was right

David was no ordinary Man…he was David - The most desired man in Jerusalem hands down

But once again, it’s interesting that the Bible makes no effort to search out her intention, puts all the attention on David the man

David was King, David was the man, David was most accountable to God

App: Whatever the situation there are a couple of things we need to remember

Men…Bathsheba moments are everywhere so prepare yourself

We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba’s of life

In that moment it becomes a battle between the flesh and the spirit

Illustrate: Some of you might say “Hey I love my wife!…I’m sure you do…but you know what else you love…Yourself

This is the great battle that David had and every man has…the battle of the flesh

The nature you feed and train…will be the nature that wins

And s

Drop the H and spell flesh backwards....you get self

Every downfall that takes place is connected to someone saying “this is what i want and i don’t care what i have to do to get it”

David’s main issue wasn’t Bathsheba…It was his flesh…and that will be yours as well

We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba moments in life We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba’s of life

We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba’s of life

We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba moments in life We live in a highly sexualized world…and we have these digital roof tops in our pockets called phones…sometimes you will not be able to avoid the Bathsheba’s of life

David’s main issue wasn’t Bathsheba…It was his flesh

Illustrate: I love the way Joseph handled this battle against the flesh

As summertime approaches be mindful of your weak brothers

p

In that moment you have a choice…Do I flee? or do I follow

Illustrate: Joseph gives us a picture of what Victory against the flesh looks like

In that moment you have a choice…Do I flee flesh or do I follow it

This is the true battle - The battle between the flesh and the Spirit

This might be the most important battle when it comes to the trajectory of your life

This battle will look different at different times

Sometimes the opposite sex

Sometimes food

Sometimes greed

But it’s always against the same thing…The flesh

It’s a battle you can win

Illustrate: Joseph gives us a picture of what Victory against the flesh looks like

Joseph was the senior advisor to the house of Potiphar

Joseph was the senior advisor to the house of Potiphar at the hight of his youth and vitality

Potiphar’s wife had eyes for him…daily as he did his job she began to burn with lust for her

she finally propositions him …and this is what he does

Genesis 39:8–12 ESV

8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. 11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

gen 39:8

His wife had eyes for him…daily as he did his job began to burn with lust for her

All of this would eventually lead to him running out of the house with half of his clothes on...

she finally propositions him

Genesis 39:8–9 ESV

8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

All of this would eventually lead to him running out of the house with half of his clothes on...

Sometimes victory against the flesh look like “just getting the heck out of there”

Women…don’t be a Bathsheba

To the beautiful people...use discretion when it comes to the way you dress

You might say “Hey don’t judge me, God looks upon the heart!” I agree but Man looks upon the outward appearance

As summertime approaches be mindful of your weak brothers

Proverbs 11:22 ESV

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Proverbs 11:22 ESV

22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

Now I understand these roles can be reversed

So here’s David…Being where he shouldn’t be, Doing what he shouldn’t be doing…and now he’s seen something he shouldn’t have seen...the beautiful Bathsheba bathing on the off of her house…he sees her…not a sin…just a coincidence…He thinks he’s again not a sin just a fact…but here is the moment of decision...

2 Samuel 11:3 ESV

3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

This is where David’s thought turned into a desire…He says “Jeave’s who’s that?” and even here’s God’s grace in creating means of escape and his servant said “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

His

2 sam 11:

Now this

“Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

Here’s why this is so significant - Bathsheba was both the daughter and the husband of david’s mighty men

Uriah was one of his bravest men - and we’ll see that a little next weeK

Eliam was one of his mighty men -

Her grandfather was a man named Ahithophel - Who without a doubt one of David’s most trusted senior advisors…it was said a from him was like a word from God 2 sam 16:23

It’s as if the servant said “Hey you know they guys who have laid down their lives for you?…she is belongs to one of them”

This is where David says “What am i thinking! I can’t do this to Uriah” right? wrong…this was his chance to walk away...

This is where david says “What am i thinking! I can’t do this to Uriah”

2 Samuel 11:4 ESV

4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.

2 samuel

What started with a look, turned into a desire…and manifested itself into an action and by having sex with her, he was sinning against the men who were the closest to him…and one of them would viciously turn on David

In chapter 16 Bathsheba’s Grandfather Ahithophel would team up with David’s wicked son Absolom attempt to overthrow David…and we read this

2 Samuel 16:20–22 ESV

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 sam 16:

Here’s the picture…on that same rooftop where David saw and took Bathsheba…her Grandfather was Orchestrating David’s downfall by telling Absolom to have sex with David’s concubines in the sight of all of Israel…thats a Jaded man right there

App: Sin destroys relationship

Real people are involved in the collateral damage of sin

sin provides a plateform for others to sin

App: sin provides a platform for other sins

The sin of unforgiveness

The sin of slander

2 Samuel 11:5 ESV

5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”

2 samuel 11:

No one’s gonna find out right? you’re not gonna get pregnant right? this is a picture of what Moses said “your sin will find you out” number 32:23…the curvature of sin was so slight and step after step David thought he was gonna come back…and then…He fall

2 Samuel 11:6 ESV

6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.

2 samuel

Because david didn’t walk away..It all led to a

Numbers 32:23 ESV

23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

An unwanted pregnancy

An innocent man will be murdered

A child’s death

A civil war where His wicked son is counseled by his once most trusted advisor

Conclusion

Whats the warning? - Don’t let this happen to you

There are some of you here today....if you were to be honest…You’re on the roof top and Bathsheba is already in your sights

If ther

I think i might be talking to mostly Guys…but perhaps their are some women

That person has caught your eye…and has rested upon them…but you know it’s sin

Think...

See past the moment…to the damage

Pro

Proverbs 6:27–29 ESV

27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 5:7–11 ESV

7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, 11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,

pro 6:

Thats the discription of a man who’s destroyed his family…and another man got all his wealth…please think about the damage

num 32

Whats the hope? - If your here in some way you’ve been wounded by sexual sin or adultery…and your so scared by it…take it to Jesus

Isaiah 53:4–6 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Is

Jesus is what you need, only Jesus can save you and mend your heart

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), Irish/British novelist, poet, literary academic, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, and Christian apologist, best known for his work THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

In that same way, because david was where he shouldn’t have been…doing what he shouldn’t have been doing…he was essentally moving closer and closer to the to the edge

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

What am I talking about? God had given rules for anyone who would be king over Israel

Deuteronomy 17:16–17 ESV

16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

Deuteronomy 17:17 ESV

17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.

Deut 17

deut

And think about this…David kept 1 and 3 like a boss!

He dedicated his winnings of silver and gold to the temple…win

He limited how many horses he himself owned…win

Now Wives…we’ll thats a different stroy

He had like 8 of them…and this showed something…He had a issue with women…and restraining his passions

App: It’s important to know your weaknesses because Satan does, and if those things are left unrepeated of…don’t be surprised if those things are your downfall

2 Samuel 11:1-6

They were united

They were courageous

They invited the king into the battle

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 “David’s Fall”

Step 1 - He was in the wrong place

Step 2 - He was looking at the wrong thing

Step 3 - He made the wrong choice

The Fall