The Prodigal King - 2 Samuel 12:1-23

Introduction

I’ve gotten into the habit of watching car wrecks on YouTube. It’s strange, I know, but it’s kind of become my thing. It’s about the cleanest thing you can find, after all. It’s one of those things where you’re always driving by car accidents on the road, and you always wonder what happened; so, watching them on tv allows you to see how it happened. I’ve begun to start seeing some common patterns that come from wrecks. And now, that I’ve been able to see the patterns, I’m usually able to predict where the wreck is going to happen before it happens. It seems so obvious to me. I’m yelling at the TV telling them that they can’t see over the hill or that the light is red, but they’re totally oblivious. They have no idea. They don’t see it.

It’s really similar actually to what I often see in ministry. Over 16 years of ministry, you begin to be able to start identifying some common patterns in people who are headed toward a crash. And, it can be quite traumatizing because it’s like you’re in another car watching someone headed toward a crash, and you just feel powerless to stop it. You want to wave your arms and keep them from danger, but they just don’t see it. They just barrel onward toward an inevitable demise.

God’s Word

That’s really how I feel when I read about David’s secret sin with Bathsheba. You see him barreling down on his own demise, and you just want to shout and raise your hands and warn him about the dangers ahead. It seems like it should be so clear what he should do and not do, where he should go and not go, but he doesn’t any way. He goes any way. And, what’s interesting is that God calls David his very son. So, here’s a man that knows God and loves God, a man who is even filled with the Holy Spirit as God’s anointed, and he totally self-destructs.

What are we to make of this? David helps us to continue trying to discern how a person can live a secret life. He shows us that any person holds a great capacity for self-destruction within them. In fact, David shows us that each one of us has the ability to self-destruct ourselves. But, as we continue on with the story, we’re able to see how we can understand, avoid, and even return from a time of self-destruction, and it can help us as we cope with what to do with those we love who self-destruct. Three Lingering Questions of a Self-destructed Christian (Headline):

How does a Christian “self-destruct”?

David was content to move on with is life. He’s destroyed everything in his path. He’s brought devastation into the lives of Bathsheba and Uriah. And, he just wants to close the door and pretend like nothing happened at all. That’s the human impulse, isn’t it? Just close the door to the junk closet of your life — to the secrets you’ve kept and the pain you’ve caused. But, God sent a preacher, and he sent a preacher so that David would have to look at the things in his life that he didn’t want to look at.

David couldn’t see how bad it was.

2 Samuel 12:1-6 “And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.””

Why did Nathan have to tell David a parable? Why didn’t Nathan didn’t just come and tell David that he’d sinned against God and that God was displeased with him? Verses 5-6 make clear the reason. David is totally oblivious to the significance of his sin. David hears this whole story, and it doesn’t even register with him that he’s the rich man. In fact, Nathan even gives him clues. In verse 3, he says that the poor man’s ewe lamb is like his “daughter”, or in Hebrew, his “bath” (bot). And, who did David have an affair with? “BATHsheba” (Daughter of Sheba). There’s these clues being given, but David isn’t hearing them. So, Nathan tells the story because it’s easier to see evil from the outside in than it is from the inside out. David hears how this poor, innocent man has been taken advantage of, and he becomes enraged. But, his rage is hypocritical because he’s the man. Most of the times that I’ve watched someone self-destruct they couldn’t see it. From the outside, you can perceive that the person is changing and moving and distancing, but if you point it out to them, they’re oblivious. It should give us real pause when people who love us and care about us see warning signs we don’t see.

David could justify every action.

2 Samuel 12:7-9 “Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”

In verse 7, God is speaking to David directly through Nathan. You’ll notice that He speaks in the first person. Imagine how it must’ve sent a shiver down the spine of David to hear God describe to him the details of his own sins. And, if we think about what God says to David, we’re able to see what else characterizes his self-destructing heart. First of all, God reminds David of all that He’d given him. (king/delivered you/your master’s house/your master’s wives/the house of Israel and Judah) God had given him power, wealth, and success, but it wasn’t enough. David was discontent. David received the generosity of God, and his response was “I need more than this.” Then, God reminds David of all that He’d made him to be. In other words, the emphasis is on what “I (God) have made you to be.” David was just an outcast shepherd boy, but God had made him a hero, a king, a man of honor. But, David had become arrogant. He begun to live like he was entitled. Not only was David saying, “I need more than this,” but he was saying, “I deserve more than this.” And, lastly God reminds him that He had been open-handed with David. (“If this were too little, I would add to you as much more.”) David only had to ask, and God would have given more. But, David was way past asking; now, he was taking. Remember what it says in 11:4 when David acts upon his lusts: “So David sent messengers and took her...” Do you hear how David justified his actions? “I need this! I deserve this! I’m going to take it!” How many affairs are justified the same way? “I needed more!” How many people justify what they’ve stolen the same way? “My family deserves better!” There’s no evil that the human heart can’t justify. And, when you begin to make yourself feel good about evil, you can be certain you’re headed toward self-destruction.

David didn’t care what God thought.

2 Samuel 12:9 “Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”

But, be sure to hear the ultimate charge that God makes so that you can see what all of this amounted to. God asks, and I want you to imagine him asking you this face-to-face like He did David, “Why have you despised my word?” You see, David didn’t see how bad his sin was; he could justify every, single thing he did; and, he’d gotten to the point where he really didn’t care what God thought about it. That’s what it means when we disregard God’s word. It means that we don’t care what God has to say about our lives. Notice the equivalency that is made. “Despise the word” = “evil in his sight” Why is this such an evil? God’s word is the framework and expression of our relationship with him. It was God’s word that formed the framework of God’s covenant with his people. Their love for and trust in him would be demonstrated by their willingness to live according to his word. To disregard it was to say, “I don’t love you, and I don’t trust you.” For David to commit adultery with Bathsheba, murder Uriah, and then live like he was still right with God is like a man who says to his wife that he loves her but he’s going to disregard their marriage vows. He doesn’t follow the vows so that he will love her; He keeps the vows because he loves her. The vows are the framework and expression of love. Perhaps, there’s no clearer indicator that you’re on the path to self-destruction that when you stop caring what God thinks. This is very common today is the redefining of sexuality/treatment of enemies/honoring of Government. It’s redrawing the lines of what’s appropriate so that it’s suitable to you. It’s to say, “I know the Bible says ____________, but I just don’t think __________.” God is asking, “Why do you despise my word?”

And, it’s after he’s laid out all of these things that Bathsheba and Uriah are mentioned. Before there was a problem with people, there was a problem with the heart. Before there was a sin against Bathsheba or Uriah, there was a sin against God. What’s in your heart this morning? Do you see how bad your sin is? What evil are you making yourself feel good about? Do you care what God thinks?

Has God’s promise “failed?”

When we see that David (or a Christian or we) has self-destructed, even if we understand what was in our hearts for that to happen, the next question that is likely to come into our minds is God’s promise. Do you remember what God’s promise to David was? God was going to establish David’s house forever, but now it looks like that’s all in shambles. It looks like it’s not even going to make it to the next generation. And, when Christians (including ourselves) self-destruct, we have the same thoughts, don’t we? Didn’t Jesus say in John 6:37 “whoever comes to me I will never cast out?” When God’s people self-destruct, has God’s promise failed?

God’s goodness demands his justice.

2 Samuel 12:5-6 “Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.””

In fact, I think this is the exact question we’re supposed to ask. And, it starts in David’s answer. When he was talking about someone else, David was able to see how good and right and necessary justice was. Do you see what he says? This man deserves what? To die! Then, he quotes Exodus 22:1 ““If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.” But, notice the juxtaposition because it’s critical to the whole thing. “As the LORD LIVES.....this man deserves to DIE.” Isn’t that interesting? It’s like He’s saying, “If there’s a God, if there’s a standard of what’s good, if there’s an absolute ruler of this world that has established justice, this man must deserve death.” In other words, if there’s goodness, there must be justice. If there is no justice, there is no goodness. If there is no goodness, there is no God. That’s the logic here. The very fact that God is alive means that this kind of evil cannot go unnoticed. But now, think of what that means for David? What does David deserve? He deserves to die. The Law demands DEATH for adultery. AND, the Law demands DEATH for murder. David is double-dead! The promise is in peril. How can God still be good and just while also upholding his promise to establish David as a house forever? That’s the tension in this text. And, the same is asked for you and me when we self-destruct. How can God both judge our sin and uphold his promise to keep us forever? But, let me give you the answer, and then show you where to find it. What hope does the promise have? God’s promise was not dependent upon David. God’s promise is not hinged upon you. God’s promise is hinged upon only himself. Look at what He does:

God’s discipline draws out our repentance.

2 Samuel 12:12 “For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ””

Look at verse 12. David tried to live a secret life, but God was going to drag it out into the light. God was going to let David be humiliated. God was going to let David come to the end of himself. In fact, God was going to allow an exact consequence to come into David’s life that corresponded with each of David’s sinful actions. David had devoured a house by the sword, and so would David’s house be. David had stolen a man’s wife, and so would his wives be. Why would God do this to David? Because He loves him! Because He is determined to keep David forever! Because David must repent, and God is going to be sure that He does! Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”” God lets the prodigals become hungry enough to eat pig slop so that we’ll say, “Wasn’t life better in my Father’s house?”

God’s mercy accepts our repentance.

2 Samuel 12:13 “David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

And, that’s what leads to verse 13 and the greater juxtaposition. David has heard the charges. David has heard the discipline. David understands what he deserves. And, what does he do? He does what God’s children do. How do you know if you’re God’s child? Do you respond to God’s justice and discipline the way that David does? David repents. No excuses. No justifications. NO explanations. Just sorrowful, broken-hearted, clear-eyed repentance. And, then the great switch takes place. What does this man deserve? David himself says, “As surely as the LORD lives, he deserves to die.” What does God say? “I’ve put away your sin; you shall not die.” God doesn’t give David what David knows David deserves. God’s mercy accepts our repentance every time. That’s the gospel. So, the promise doesn’t persevere because we uphold it with our perfect living. The promise perseveres because God chases us down to every, single pig pen we run to to draw us back to repentance, back to fellowship, back to relationship again.

Has God chased you to this moment? Is God confronting your sin this morning? Repent and find mercy.

Why does forgiven sin still “hurt”?

2 Samuel 12:14 “Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.””

There can be a line of thinking out there, especially among teenagers and people without enough experience to know better, that goes something like this: “Well, so and so did this and lived that way, and look at them. They’re just fine now.” If you find yourself thinking that way, I’d invite you to actually go and talk to that person. You need to hear about how they battle feelings of guilt from the past. You need to hear how the pain of past relationships and sins is still aching in their soul. Verse 14 gets to one of the most common questions I deal with in the counseling. Notice what happens. David is forgiven. David’s sins have been removed. David’s restored into fellowship with God. But, his son still dies. Often, it goes something like this: I’ve said I’m sorry, but still no one believes me. God has forgiven me, but my Christian kids are still angry with me. And, it can be disorienting to us.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean painless. Forgiveness from God removes sin’s ultimate penalty, but it doesn’t negate all of sin’s earthly consequences. God’s removal of sin is like a rock that’s been thrown into a lake. You can go and remove the rock, and like your sin, it’s actually removed and actually gone. But, the ripples still spread. Think of David. Do you remember what he said the cost to be paid for the ewe lamb was? He said it was four times its value. Do you know how many sons David would ultimately lose? 4 sons. In fact, David would never reach the same height of power or success. His family would suffer. His son with Bathsheba would die in infancy. His son Amnon would rape his daughter Tamar and then be murdered by Absalom. Absalom would seek to overthrow his father our of resentment, and David’s men would take his life. Adonijah was undisciplined by David and would seek to gain the throne illegitimately and would die in the process. In other words, David walked through the rest of his life with a limp. But, it was a limp that was intended to constantly reset his gaze upon the Lord. It was a limp that was intended to remind him of how badly he needed God.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean painless, but don’t resent your limp. And, praise God, your limp doesn’t last. David was a guilty man that deserved death, but an innocent man would come to die instead. David’s sons would pay a price for his sins, but the Son of David would pay THE price for his sin. Jesus would be crucified so that mercy would win and so the limp wouldn’t last. You see, the cross is the great reminder that forgiveness isn’t painless. But, it’s also the reminder that the pain of forgiveness will never last. For He has risen and pain has been overthrown.