The Consequences of Sin – When We Neglect to Read, Memorize, and Meditate on Scripture.

 

Intro video clip:  What Sin is Like (from Spiderman 3)

David is one of the most complex characters in the Bible. A man after God’s own heart and a man who displays impressive faith in the midst of trials; yet, David is not perfect and his reign as Israel's king can also be characterized by bloodshed, insurrections, and personal tragedies. Let’s look at David’s life and study one incident in particular that will dramatically change his life and the lives of those around him.

We studied 2 Samuel 11 – David and Bathsheba. 

From class, we learned that David’s encounter with Bathsheba was not a single incident of sin; rather it was a series of sins. David 1^st sin was that he did not lead Israel’s army to war as kings do (v. 1) (Note: this is also the sin King Saul committed when he sent David to fight Goliath). This sets up David’s covetousness and adultery with Bathsheba, resulting in her pregnancy. David tries to cover up his transgression by calling her husband, Uriah the Hittite, home from war. David urges Uriah to visit his wife by first giving him a gift to take home and when that doesn’t work by getting Uriah drunk. Yet Uriah remains a faithful soldier and doesn’t go see his wife, rather he yearns to get back to war for "the ark of Israel and Judah are staying in tents....how could I go to my house to eat and drink.." (v. 11). With his acts of deception not working, David then sets up the murder of Uriah by sending him to the fiercest parts of the war without backup. Uriah gets killed and David has Bathsheba brought to him to become his wife.

I chose this lesson to illustrate the importance of the 3 Spiritual Disciplines we have studied: reading God’s Word, memorizing Scripture, and Bible meditation. This is the temptation of David. But unlike the temptation of Jesus, David does not answer temptation with "It is written....". David should have recalled and quoted these commandments:

               You shall not covet your neighbor’s house…covet your neighbor’s wife.

               You shall not commit adultery.

               You shall not give false testimony.

               You shall not murder.

               You shall not steal.

David's sins illustrate the venomous nature of sin. Sin is venom. Sin may start small, but the more we sin, the easier it is for us to commit more sins. Notice that it's David’s first sin of being in the wrong place (not at war) that leads to him being tempted with Bathsheba, which then leads David to quickly commit more and more sins.

Besides being poisonous to our lives, sin affects those around us. Like that ABC show “How to Get Away With Murder”, David’s sin with Bathsheba will change the course of the lives of everyone involved.  

               Uriah, one of David’s great warriors (2 Samuel 23:39), gets murdered.

               Bathsheba becomes unclean (v. 4) because of David and mourns for her husband.

               Joab, the accomplice to Uriah’s murder, will ultimately kill David’s beloved son Absalom.

               Finally, there’s David. It’s clear that the Lord is displeased with David (v. 27b). In the Bible this chapter marks the beginning of the end of David’s prosperous reign as king. As with the past leaders of Israel (ex. Moses), God will punish leaders for their disobedience. God will discipline David and all of Israel will suffer because of his sin. Here’s a timeline of the reign of King David.

Notice King David’s reign before and after his incident with Bathsheba.  

Quick Timeline of the reign of King David

2 Samuel 5 - David becomes king over all Israel, David conquers Jerusalem, David defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 6 - The Ark is brought to Jerusalem

2 Sameul 7 - God’s promise to David (very significant, one day we will have a class on this chapter!), David’s Prayer

2 Samuel 8 – David’s victories

2 Samuel 9 – David shows kindness to Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 10 – David defeats the Ammonites

2 Samuel 11 – David and Bathsheeba

2 Samuel 12 – Nathan rebukes David

2 Samuel 13 – Amnon and Tamar, Absalom kills Amnon (David’s sin results in a broken family and the murder of one of his sons by his older 1/2 brother)

2 Samuel 14 – 15 – Absalom returns to Jerusalem; Absalom’s conpiracy against David; David flees for his life (David’s sin leads to a civil war in Israel)

2 Sameul 18 – Absalom’s death, David mourns (the aftermath of David’s sins lead to his son's murder by Joab)

So, does David really get away with murder? 

The problem of sin is that it entangles and enslaves you. Sin starts small, acts slowly but then quickly takes control over you. It changes you. Sin's like a drug; it makes you act different. Did you notice that in this chapter, David behaves like Saul? He's not "a man after God's own heart", rather he's a sinful man who is worried about his reputation if people find out that he is having a child with a married woman. Like Saul, David gives the orders for the murder of an innocent man.

Sin is toxic. It ruins your life, your goals, your dreams, and everything you’ve worked for. But sadly sin doesn't only affect you. The worse thing about sin is that its destruction is far-reaching - it also harms those around you. Sin damages your relationship with your families and loved ones. Sin breaks up friendships at school and at work. Sin destroys a community. Sin, as it says in the Bible, is death. (Romans 6:23)

Therefore don’t let sin ruin your life. Battle temptation. Be like Jesus. Equip the sword of the Spirit. Read, memorize, and meditate on Scripture.

Contemplative Psalm: Psalm 119:1-8

 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
    who walk according to the law of the Lord. 

 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
    and seek him with all their heart 

  they do no wrong
    but follow his ways.

You have laid down precepts
    that are to be fully obeyed. 

 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees! 

 Then I would not be put to shame
    when I consider all your commands. 

 I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws. 

 I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.

Next Week: Silence and Solitude.