THOU ART THE MAN (2)
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
The right words, wisely and carefully chosen can have a great impact on the life of others.
Such was the case many years ago as that wise confronter and prophet of God, Nathan, with well-chosen words, broke through the fortified defenses around the stony heart of the king of Israel, David.
You will remember in a previous lesson we discussed David’s adultery, his attempted coverup of her pregnancy, and finally the murder of Uriah.
You will remember in a previous lesson we discussed David’s adultery, his attempted coverup of her pregnancy, and finally the murder of Uriah.
After certain days of mourning were complete, David moved Bathsheba into the palace to make the cover-up complete, but notice...
2 Samuel 11:27b (KJV 1900)
27 ...But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.
It is certain that whenever you read words like that in the Bible, you haven’t heard the end of the story. Such is the case here.
Nearly one year transpired between the events of chapter 11 and those of chapter 12 – a year in which David lived in shame – the life of a hypocrite. Then suddenly things begin to move.
1 And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
Nathan was God’s prophet, a wise and courageous man, who spoke “timely words” to cut through David’s defenses and slice all the way through his heart
Given the suddenness of David’s response in the next verse, it looks as though Nathan hardly finished his story before David’s righteous indignation boiled over.
5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die: 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
Isn’t it amazing how the human heart is so quick to condemn others and yet it can be so blind to one’s self.
David seems totally unaware that he has just slipped his head into a noose of his own making. As quickly as David said the words, Nathan drives home the truth.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
At this point I see David’s in my mind’s eye as sitting there with his mouth open in utter shock
“Thou art the man” must had been as a sword piercing his heart, and then to hear all the trouble that was going to come to him as a result of his sin
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
Stop and look at David’s confession
No excuse - no extenuating circumstances were brought up – no “temporary insanity” plea is lodged
David simply hangs his head in shame and said, “I have sinned” - we’ll talk more about this in a few minutes
As quickly as he stepped into the room to confront David, Nathan steps out, leaving David alone with the whole sham in tatters around his feet.
There are many things we can learn from this passage that are applicable to us today.
There are many things we can learn from this passage that are applicable to us today.
We could study:
Nathan’s wise approach
The courage of Nathan
The sorrow of true repentance
But, we’ll save those for another time. In this lesson, I want to point out four truths about sin in the believer
DISCUSSION
The one who hides sin in his or her own life is often the one quickest to condemn others without mercy
The one who hides sin in his or her own life is often the one quickest to condemn others without mercy
David was ready to execute the man in Nathan’s parable; yet, he himself was guilty of the same sin to a far greater degree.
David was ready to execute the man in Nathan’s parable; yet, he himself was guilty of the same sin to a far greater degree.
Talk about a double standard!
This is so often true of man, becoming highly critical of others, even in the midst of harboring wretched sin in our lives
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Never drop the guard on your heart, especially in the way you deal with others.
Never drop the guard on your heart, especially in the way you deal with others.
Don’t trust your heart to guide you, because it can lead you astray.
David was ready to destroy a man who had done the same thing he had done on a far smaller scale
Jesus said …
Jesus said …
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
He did not say that we should not condemn others.
He removed the realm of judging others from the possession of those who harbor blatant sin in their own lives
If you find that you are highly critical of others, anxious to call down fire from heaven upon them without mercy, stop and examine yourself first.
In order to do what he did with Bathsheba, David had to despise God and His word for a time
In order to do what he did with Bathsheba, David had to despise God and His word for a time
I realize that this is strong language – but notice the following passage very closely...
I realize that this is strong language – but notice the following passage very closely...
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Some try to minimize sin by saying, “Well, no one was hurt.”
Some try to minimize sin by saying, “Well, no one was hurt.”
But that is not the way God looks at it!
When we disobey we are despising God’s word, and when we despise His word – we despise God
To “despise” come from a Hebrew word meaning to consider a thing worthless
So, when we disregard any of God’s commands we are considering God and His word of no value
For David to sin (and not repent of it), he had to push God and the remembrance of God’s word out of his life - and considering it of no value.
Otherwise, his conscience would have condemned him far sooner than it did
Consider how the right attitude toward God and His word can help us to view sin much differently...
9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: Teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
One who truly loves God will not constantly push God’s word aside. If you are harboring sin in your life – you are despising God
One who truly loves God will not constantly push God’s word aside. If you are harboring sin in your life – you are despising God
When God forgives a penitent sinner, He does not remove the temporal consequences
When God forgives a penitent sinner, He does not remove the temporal consequences
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
The penalty of adultery under the Law of Moses was death
10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Both the man and woman were to be stoned.
God took away this penalty when David confessed.
But look back at what was not taken away when David confessed...
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
This would be fulfilled when David’s own son, Absalom, in utter spite for his father, led an army against David’s palace, drove David out, put a tent on the roof of the palace (where David’s sin began) where all could see, and violated each of David’s wives
David also suffered with deaths of:
the child born to Bathsheba
his son Ammon
his son Absalom
and, his son Adonijah
David’s adultery was a sin against God, against Bathsheba, against Uriah, against the child born out of adultery, and against his own family – particularly four of his sons.
David’s adultery was a sin against God, against Bathsheba, against Uriah, against the child born out of adultery, and against his own family – particularly four of his sons.
Many time the innocent suffer because of our wrong choices
Children see daddy doing it - so they thinks why can’t I?
Sometimes this can be see among brethren watching one another’s actions...
Remember God immutable law …
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.
7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
Unconfessed sin has a consequence of its own
Unconfessed sin has a consequence of its own
Don’t leave our lesson thinking that the year David and Bathsheba spent together in the palace before Nathan’s confrontation was filled with nights of exhilaration and excitement with each other.
Don’t leave our lesson thinking that the year David and Bathsheba spent together in the palace before Nathan’s confrontation was filled with nights of exhilaration and excitement with each other.
It wasn’t.
David looks back at this time and writes...
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah
David would loath the day he looked over the edge of the palace roof to see the bathing woman below!
David, I am sure, is now relieved. The story was out, and there was no longer a need for a cover-up.
David, I am sure, is now relieved. The story was out, and there was no longer a need for a cover-up.
Now the healing could begin
Once again, God’s grace could flood the wound and wash away the infection out of the life of His servant
CONCLUSION
I would like to read to you as we close - David’s words of repentance for this whole mess
I would like to read to you as we close - David’s words of repentance for this whole mess
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise. 16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Is there someone here this morning caught up in sin?
Is there someone here this morning caught up in sin?
Please make it right today before it is too late.
God will forgive!