The Giant that Almost Slew David
Heroes of Fatih • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
When you think of the life of David, one of two events probably come to your mind. You either remember the time young David slew Goliath; or you remember when David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Both events were monumental moments in the life of David. In the first, David revealed the fact of his humility. In the second, David revealed the fact of his humanity. In the first, David proved that he was a man of faith. In the second, David proved that he was a man of flesh. When David met a giant named Goliath, we are privileged to witness his greatest victory. When David met Bathsheba, we are forced to watch his greatest defeat.
Up until this moment, David had never lost a battle. Every time he stepped onto a field of combat, David won the battle and walked off the field a victor. However, when David entered the arena of combat within his own heart, he was soundly defeated by a giant far more powerful than Goliath could have ever hoped to have been.
Today, I want to look at this painful moment in the life of David. I want us to witness the defeat of a mighty man of God. I want us to see him fall at the feet of a powerful, brutal giant. I want us to look into David’s sin so that we might avoid the trap that he fell into. I do not want to gloat over David. I know that it could be me that we are going to talk about, it has happened to many a man of God. What I do want to do is to take this example that God has provided for us and look at The Giant That Slew David. In doing so, I want to help you and me to be aware of the internal giants that we face in life.
You see, it isn’t the giant of sickness, suffering, sorrow, poverty, pain or any other external giant that you might can name, that is going to give you the greatest trouble in your life. The giant who is going to cause you the most trouble dwells within your own heart right now. Many people fear the giants of life. Things like health problems, death, financial crisis, etc. seem to leave us quaking in fear. Yet, we never stop to think that it is the giants that we carry around with us day by day that we need to fear the most.
So as we look at the great heroes of the faith, I want us to look at them honestly. Because even heroes fall, but I want to go beyond David’s failure, instead I want to look at where he could have succeeded, and where we can and should take a stand against the enemy. And then next week, I want to look how David picked himself up and proved yet again, that he was in fact, a man after God’s own heart.
Let’s look into this passage together today. I want to show you the facts about David’s giant. Why is this important? The giant that slew David is out to kill you too! Let’s examine the facts as I try to preach on the thought The Giant That Slew David.
The Personality of David’s Giant
The Personality of David’s Giant
David’s Giant Considered
David’s Giant Considered
If we really want to understand the nature of the giant that dwelled within David’s heart, we need to look back to
So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
We are told there that God had blessed David and had established his kingdom. We are also told that David recognized the hand of divine providence at work in his life. Thank God for the “Unseen Hand.” But, we are also given a piece of distressing news as well. Verse 13 says “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem.”
What’s wrong with this? After all, David is a mighty King. He is undefeated on the field of battle. He has expanded the kingdom. He has built a great army and placed the right men in all the key positions. He has led the nation in growth militarily, financially, and spiritually. Surely no one would care if David indulged his appetite for women by taking to himself many wives and concubines.
Well, God cared! What David did was in direct contradiction to the word of God in
“When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.
You see, God had very clearly laid out in the law that the king was forbidden to do three things:
He was not to accumulate horses.
He was not to accumulate wives.
He was not to accumulate gold and silver.
David had honored God’s command regarding items number one and three. David had disabled the horses taken in battle,
David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
He had also dedicated the gold and silver taken as spoil in battle to the Lord,
And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued—from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
But, he had disregarded what God had to say about accumulating wives.
David had a giant, and if a name had to be attached to this giant, I think “Lust” would be appropriate. It appears that David had strong appetite for the ladies. But, David, like many others, discovered that many intimate partners will not satisfy your desires, they will only increase them.
David had problems with a spiritual giant named “Lust.” You may not battle that one, but you know the name of the one or ones you do battle. In fact, if you have never done it, it might be good for you to identify the identity of you giant. Admitting that it exists is the first step in seeing it defeated! And while we will be naming this particular giant lust, we can substitute fear or gluttony or gossip or any such other sins during this story. Where we speak of adultery and lust, substitute your giant’s name there instead.
David’s Giant Constructed
David’s Giant Constructed
It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
Where did this giant of lust come from? How did this giant obtain the power necessary to overcome a “man after God’s Own heart”?
There are several factors that combined to allow David’s own giant the power to attack his life.
Neglect of Duty – As King, David should have led his men into battle and not stayed at home while they were out fighting and dying.
Idle Time – David was in bed when he should have been in the battle! Too much free time allows the mind time to wander in areas where it ought not to be. An old English proverb says “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”
Success – David enjoyed absolute success and victory over all the enemies of Israel. Success is a heady thing! But, you are never more vulnerable than when you have just enjoyed a great success. People tend to develop a feeling of invincibility.
Pride – David knew that God was with him, he may have let that knowledge go to his head. He may have forgotten the truth that God will walk with those who are going His way. We see this often: When people are passing through hard times, they become very dependent upon the Lord. There is no room for pride when you are depending on the Lord for everything you need. But, when success comes, when the dreams are fulfilled, when you have what you want, it is easy to become lifted up in pride.
Arrogance – David had come to believe his own press! He believed that he was everything people said he was. He reveled in his celebrity and it became his downfall, Pro. 16:18. We all need someone around us who will tell us the truth about ourselves and help us stay humble before the Lord.
Neglect of the Spiritual Man – We can only speculate, but it seems that David was guilty of neglecting his spiritual health. People who stay close to the Lord through prayer and reading and meditating upon His Word do not do what David did.
I am sure there were other causes, but what we need to understand here is the truth that David’s giant was something that he allowed to thrive in his own life. He could have prevented what happened had he taken the proper steps.
Now, I do not want to be too hard on David. There are times when we are all guilty of feeding our own giants until they become so powerful that they overwhelm us. When you see yourself falling into the trap that David fell into, you need to know that your giant is going to get out of hand. When he does, he will not stop until he has nearly destroyed you, your life and your testimony.
You see, David’s giant, and the giants that we face do not usually come from without. They come from within,
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Therefore, we must be certain that the inner man is strengthen so that he can do battle with the giants that lurk within our own hearts.
The Power of David’s Giant
The Power of David’s Giant
As we examine what happened to David when he faced the giant of lust, we can learn something of the power this giant exercised in David’s life. Watching his battle can help us when our own battles arise.
It Had The Power To Ensnare His Mind
It Had The Power To Ensnare His Mind
The Context- David is lying on his bed, when he decides to take a walk out on the roof. This was probably a patio just outside his royal chambers. History tells us that kings often kept these rooftop patios, which were lavishly furnished and often covered by awnings to provide shade, as places of sanctuary. They would be above the noise of the city and were high enough to give the king some privacy from those below.
On this night, David sees a woman bathing. The Bible says that her physical appearance is “very beautiful to look upon.” The Bible uses the word “very” sparingly in its pages. When it is used it is there to emphasize a truth. And, when it does use the word, it never does so to exaggerate! Therefore, when the Bible says that Bathsheba was “very beautiful to look upon” we can say without reservation that she was the absolute vision of female beauty and physical perfection. And, when David saw her, the giant of lust that dwelt within his heart roared to life.
All David can think about is Bathsheba. He wants to know who she is and everything about her. And you know he’s not particularly interested in what types of board games she enjoys and what her favorite flavor of ice cream is. No, the man’s mind filled with fantasies of a very adult nature. The giant has ensnared his mind and he has forgotten who he is, who he serves and how he is supposed to be living. The giant has taken control of David’s mind!
He saw her, her wanted her and he took her! This is how sin works,
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
This is how it has always worked, And this is how it will always work,
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
The devil has never changed and the nature of sin has never changed!
This is the first step that you and I take when we are about to be overcome by our own giants. A thought develops into a desire within in our mind and demands to be fulfilled. The mind is the first battlefield with the giants of sin. If it falls, the rest of the defenses will tumble like dominoes!
God has something to say about the mind and how it is to be guarded at all times.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
The mind must be guarded or the giants will ensnare it and lead the rest of the body into rebellion and sin!)
It Had The Power To Erase His Reason –
It Had The Power To Erase His Reason –
The Context- When David inquires about Bathsheba, he is told that she is the wife of a loyal soldier, and that she is the granddaughter of a trusted advisor. This information should have caused David to stop the course of action he was pursuing; instead, he pressed on.
Such is the power of the giants that assault us. They first ensnare the mind, and then they seem to erase all reason. People in the grip of lust or some other fleshly desire often do things that they would never do under normal circumstances. When they get in the grip of their giant, they lose their senses and become intoxicated with gratifying their fleshly desires! When a look is allowed to linger, lust will be conceived; and when lust is conceived, sin is always the result,
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
It Had The Power To Eclipse His God –
It Had The Power To Eclipse His God –
The Context- David knew better! He is fifty years old. He has been King in Israel for twenty years. He is a man of God. He is a mighty warrior. He is the “Sweet Singer of Israel.” But, at this moment in time, he reveals the truth that he has feet of clay. He brings Bathsheba into his bed and he commits adultery with another man’s wife! He dishonors her; her husband; his wives and, most of all, he dishonors God,
“You shall not commit adultery.
David has forgotten his relationship with God. The giant of lust has blinded him to the point where David has become a practical atheist. He is living as if there were no God! The giant of lust is standing so tall in David’s heart that it has blocked the face of God from view! David and Bathsheba enjoyed the pleasures of an illicit affair. As the Bible says,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
David paid for his moment of pleasure with a lifetime of pain!
And that, saints, is the power of sin! David forgot God and if you give into you giants, you will too! When that giant rises up in your heart, he will block your view of the Father! When that happens, you will find yourself doing things that you never thought possible. That is why it is so vitally important that the giants we fight be defeated when they first appear in their attacks against the mind. If we can stop him there, he cannot control our life like he desires to!
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
I want to address a couple of matters before we move on. I want to remind you that both David and Bathsheba are at fault here. David is a man of God and he knew better than to do what he did. He was the aggressor in this horrible act. But, surely Bathsheba knew that David, or anyone else for that matter, could see her as she bathed, if they were on a high roof. I do not know whether or not she intended for her affair with David to take place; but, these two people teach us a couple of lessons that need to be mentioned here today.
Be careful how you look at others is the first lesson! We all know adultery is wrong; but Jesus said that looking at someone with lust for them constituted adultery already,
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Be careful how you look at others is the first lesson! We all know adultery is wrong; but Jesus said that looking at someone with lust for them constituted adultery already,
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Be careful how you look! Sin enters in when we spend too much time contemplating the object of our desire. Why is it that we think that we can maintain discipline while on a diet, if we are constantly looking at that big chocolate éclair all day? If your vice is alcohol, and it is your giant – why do you linger in front of the alcohol display at the grocery store? Remember our passage from 1 John?
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
The second lesson is this: Be careful how you look to others! Maybe you don’t have a weight problem, but you share an office with someone who’s on a diet and you know they’re on this diet. Is it very loving to parade your sweet treats in front of them? Wouldn’t it be better to eat your éclair discreetly? Or if you don’t have a problem with alcohol, is it right to drink in front of an alcoholic? For this reason, women are instructed by scripture to dress modestly.
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
No one forces a man to sin with his eyes and his heart; but no one makes a woman dress in such a way that it makes it easier for the man to sin in this manner. I believe that many women do not understand men and how they think. Not knowing is one thing, but when you dress provocatively and call it “cute”, understand that you not only attract the attention of men, but you trigger their biology as well and that is wrong! The Bible calls for women to dress modestly,
in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
You will attract the right kind of man with the right kind of dress,
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
The Problem with David’s Giant
The Problem with David’s Giant
The problem David experienced with his giant is the same one we all face when we deal with our giant. David fed his giant and it just wanted more. Once the giant of lust was out its cage it spread like a cancer until it consumed David’s life. Notice what the giant of lust did to David.
It Led Him Down A Deceptive Path –
It Led Him Down A Deceptive Path –
Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”
And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”
Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
The Context - David tried every tactic he could to get Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba. However, Uriah had more integrity than David did at this point. Look at Uriah’s response to David in verse 11. When Uriah would not go home the first night; David got him drunk the next night. David is using deception to try and cover his sins. Instead of stepping up and being a man; confessing his sins to God and dealing with the consequences, David tried to hide like a coward.
When people find themselves under the grip and control of their sins, they will try every method to keep their sin covered and hidden. God’s way is openness and honesty,
He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Man’s way is to hide it. Sin will lead you down a path of deception.)
It Led Him Down A Deepening Path –
It Led Him Down A Deepening Path –
In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”
The Context- When deception did not work, David settled on a plan to remove Uriah altogether. David devised a plan to get Uriah killed on the battlefield and even sent the man back to the war carrying his own death warrant. Joab carried out David’s orders, and would later use the plan against David. Sin was leading David deeper and deeper into its prison and farther and farther away from the Lord.
This is how sin always works! It is never satisfied, but it will lead you along, taking you deeper and deeper, ever tightening its grip on your heart and life. Don’t be deceived by the giant that dwells in your heart. He will settle for nothing short of your total destruction! When the Bible says
Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
it means what it says!
It Led Him Down A Devastating Path –
It Led Him Down A Devastating Path –
So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ”
So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate. The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”
Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
The Context- After Uriah dies and Bathsheba fulfills her mourning period, David takes her as his wife. But, folks can count and a thinking person can figure out at least part of what happened! At any rate, David shows no remorse. It appears that his heart is hard and that he has lost the sensitivity to the Lord that marked his earlier days. Sin has devastated his life.
It is interesting to note that verse 27 says “David sent and fetched her.” This is the second time David “fetched” someone to his house. The first time was in 2 Sam. 9:5, when he “fetched” Mephibosheth from Lo-Debar. The first time, David fetched someone to show love. The second time, he fetched someone to satisfy his lust. Oh, how the mighty are fallen!
This is what sin does! It sears the conscience making sin easier and easier until the entire life is devastated and destroyed.
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
It dulls a person’s sensitivity to the Lord and His voice. Sin will wreck and ruin your life if you allow it take hold of you! Be careful!
Satan never shows his cards. He never tells you about the worm hidden in his apple. He never tells the drunk that the alcohol he’s drinking will destroy his life and ruin his family. He never tells the fornicator or adulterer that their sexual activities may lead to pregnancy, disease or death. He never tells the drug user that his habit will control him forever. He never tells the truth about sin! But, God does! Listen to
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Behold, all souls are Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Don’t let the giant that dwells in your heart to destroy and devastate your life.
Putting it all Together -
This is a sad place to leave David. The last part of verse 27 hangs over this chapter like a funeral pall.
2 Samuel 11:27 (NKJV)
And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
But, if you think the story is over, it is not! In truth, it is merely beginning! God does not leave those He loves in the grip of sin. He has ways of bringing them to their senses and of setting them free. We will see that played out in David’s life and how he overcame it in our next lesson.
For now, here is the issue that we must deal with: David’s sin was just sin! It could have been committed by anyone of us! Yet, it is magnified by who David was and by how he handled it. The fact is, we are no greater than David. We are as prone to fail as he was. If we are not careful, there is a giant lurking in the recesses of our heart and his desire is our demise,
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Are you dealing with a giant that is trying to destroy you? If you are, you do not have to lose the battle! You can have victory and you can have it today! The first step is going to be getting honest with the Lord about the battle you are fighting. It is going to mean telling Him the whole truth and leaning upon His for your strength to fight the battle.
If you have already been beaten by the giant, I want you to know that the war is not over! God knows how to restore you and help you out of sin’s grip.
If the Lord has spoken to you on any level, whether it is about your own sins, or about what you see another person going through, I invite you to come before the Lord and talk to Him about it. If you have never been saved, I invite you to come to Jesus for salvation, if He is calling you.
You do not have to lose the battle with your giant! You can have victory if you want it!