David's Repentance
2 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 20
When we last left King David, he had committed grievous sin, not only against the Lord, but also against a loyal man he had known for many years and we should not forget also against his own nation Israel.
All our actions will most every time affect the safety and livelihood of those around us.
What had God told Adam?
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof "thou shalt surely die".
Some will say that Adam did not die but the truth is that such a change took place not only in his physical condition but also in his mind and heart.
Adam truly began to die this day of his sin!
He began to die because he was no longer innocent.
He began to die because his hope of a pure life died.
He began to die because his peace died.
God has said to us:
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
King David would be restored by the "Grace" of God "BUT" King David could not escape the punishment of God.
The Prophet Nathan returned again to King David with another message from Jehovah God.
*****2Sa 12:1 And the LORD 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.
Thanks to a ruthless, self-serving general in King David's army and a wife who was silent for many reasons, it appeared that King David would get away with adultery and murder without it being common knowledge but God was not deceived by King David's actions.
Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: "and be sure your sin will find you out".
After David repented to God of his sin, he wrote these words:
Psa 52:7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
When we trust in the things of this world we will fail!
Nathan began to remind his king a of "The One" who had much greater authority than he had.
It would not be easy for Nathan to stand before this King and confront him with this thing that through murder and deceit had been kept so secretly for nearly 9 months.
It was easy for David to understand a rich man, poor man story, because David had been both poor and had become rich so Nathan continued.
*****2Sa 12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
2Sa 12:3 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 meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
If we believe another song that David wrote then we must believe that King David had spent this 9 month period under heavy conviction but he still could not bring himself to repentance.
Psa 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Psa 32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Uriah had only one wife Bathsheba and not many animals are much cuter than a baby lamb!
David on the other hand had many wives and even more concubines who he could have had at any time he chose.
As David listened to Nathan, he was living in this example of this rich man.
And Nathan continued.
*****2Sa 12:4 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.
Who was this traveler?
1) This traveler was Pride!
David had exalted himself above the Word of God.
When we think we know better than God, we have made our own selves gods!
When we reject the Word of God, we are saying that we know more than God does.
2) This traveler was also Temptation!
Who is the Tempter?
Satan!
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
When Satan understood that the Messiah would come from the line of David, he did everything he could to stop that from happening.
Satan knows the Word of God!
Listen as Satan quotes scripture but he also takes scripture out of context as much of this world does.
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: "for it is written", He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
In this instance King David was also a "type" of Christ but we will see David's failure, where the Lord Jesus Christ succeeded and had no sin.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
This also would not be the last time that Satan would tempt King David.
1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
Satan will never quit bringing his temptations but when we yield to his temptations it just makes it easier for him to return with more stuff to hinder our relationship with God!
God says:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, "to stand".
God also says:
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Satan can be a frightening thing but the child of God, filled with the Holy Spirit "is his master" and Satan must flee if we resist him!
We resist him by getting closer to the Lord!
Snuggle up to Jesus and Satan has no power at all!
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
King David had failed in his temptation.
King David had been under conviction for almost 9 months.
This story(not a parable) that Nathan was saying made King David very angry.
Anger still came before repentance as David was still hiding his secret sin.
*****2Sa 12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
2Sa 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
We should notice that even under conviction for his own sin, King David was more ready to judge another man's sin and this judgment was much greater than God's Word.
Exo 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
It was the adulterers who was to die.
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Fourfold would have been 16 animals.
And David adds, "because he had no pity", it was King David who had had no pity on his fellow man!
David had forgotten the truth in the Word of God:
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
King David's pronouncement of a fourfold restoration would soon came back on his own house.
1) In our lesson today we will see that this child born to Bathsheba will die.
2) Tamar, the virgin daughter of David will be raped by her half-brother Amnon.
3) Absalom would then murder Amnon out of revenge for his sister.
4) Absalom later would be killed by Joab, when he was already captured alive as he rebelled against his father King David.
David had been greatly blessed by God and was a man after God's own heart, but even the godliest men, especially those placed in a position to influence God's people, will be chastened because of the willful sin of disobedience.
And Nathan said.
*****2Sa 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
2Sa 12:8 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 moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
King David had put much effort into hiding this sin from all of Israel but he had not been able to hide it from God!
King David was now brought face to face with his sin. It was in his hands to confess and repent that sin to restore his fellowship with the Lord.
All sin can be forgiven but one and that is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ as our One and Only Savior!
By God's "Grace" He forgive our sin but we will always suffer the consequences of that sin!
The purpose God had for King David would continue because of God's covenant with him but David would now struggle his remaining years.
King David could not now reach his full potential in his service for the Lord!
What did Job say?
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Nathan's word from God was, "If you have a need come to Me".
God tells us this:
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, "because ye ask not".
If we have a specific need we must go to the Lord "and not ever" go against the Lord!
Wherefore means "Why, for what reason".
Why had David failed?
*****2Sa 12:9 "Wherefore" hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed 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 Amnon.
King David had placed himself above the Word of God!
King David had committed adultery with another man's wife.
King David had committed murder even if that weapon of murder was not in his own hands.
King David had stolen the life and the future of a national hero but more so he had stolen this life from Jehovah God.
BUT, the thing that was the worst was that King David had despised the Word of God by forsaking the commandments of God!
It did not matter that is was an Ammonite who had actually slain Uriah, God knew King David was the cause of Uriah's death!
Where ever there is a "wherefore" you will always find a "therefore"!
"Therefore" means for this reason and answers the "wherefore".
*****2Sa 12:10 Now "therefore" the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
1) There is no sin beyond the mercy of God to the believer!
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound":
2) God has the "Mercy" and "Grace" to forgive our sin but we will still suffer from the results of that sin.
When God chastises it is not vengeance!
God does not take vengeance on those that love Him and repent of their sin!
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
King David had broken the purity of a family relationship, one that God honors the most, "the marriage of one man to one woman".
All God's Word is true but this one standard of the family, "the husband/wife relationship", is very dear to Our God.
God said:
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And God still says:
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
God had told King David that he could not build the Temple because he was a man of war.
For the rest of King David's life he would war not only with the enemies of Israel but also within his own house!
And the Lord describes some of these things and King David finally repents of his sin.
*****2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, 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 neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
2Sa 12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
2Sa 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
What did we learn from the Book of Job?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
What will happen to King David?
God will remove that hedge of protection from around King David!
God said He would permit these things to be done because of David's unrepented sin!
And had David remained "faithful" none of these things would have happened that are mentioned here!
King David had judged his own sin to be four times worse because he had had no pity on Uriah!
David had tried to hide his sin.
All these things that God has mentioned through Nathan the Prophet, would in the open for all of Israel and all the world to see!
David finally repents of his sin, God forgives him, and because of His covenant, this sin will not be the cause of David's death.
But there are always other things that happen around us when we sin!
And all sin is ultimately against the Lord!
Our testimony is usually first affected.
David had given a great occasion to the enemies of God, to blaspheme Him!
Jesus tells us this:
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
David had allowed his light to grow dim before the enemies of God!
If you call yourself a Christian, there will always be some one observing you to see how you live.
The way we live our Christian lives is our greatest witnessing tool in this world!
This child from this adulterous relationship would also die.
We will soon see that God took this child to Heaven.
It is not punishment for this child to go straight to glory and miss out on life in this sin filled world!
*****2Sa 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
2Sa 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
It is not said that God brought on this sickness, it is only said that this baby was very sick.
This could have been from the stress that Bathsheba had gone through in this sinful relationship!
What do we know for sure?
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
And Nathan went back to his own home and when Solomon was born, we will see that this Nathan would be in charge of his education.
*****2Sa 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
We can pray anywhere but there is just something special about that altar in the House of God!
King David went to the Tabernacle of David and did what was needed!
This is exactly what we all should do for those that are sick!
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It was a merciful God that had forgiven King David and David sought for God's mercy on this child.
In the end this child got a complete healing because of God's mercy and the Lord did raise him on up to Heaven.
*****2Sa 12:17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2Sa 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
2Sa 12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
2Sa 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
This baby was 7 days old when the Lord took it on to Heaven. David's servants were afraid to tell their king that the baby had died but some how we just know these things by the actions of others.
To their surprise David rose from his mourning.
Not only that but cleansed himself and went to the Tabernacle of David.
There in that place, King David submitted himself to the Lord. King David had been forgiven of his sin but he still knew his chastisement was still ahead.
The prophets tell us this Tabernacle of David will be raised again in the end times for this same reason. That that those that repent and humble them selves before the Lord can cleanse themselves and present themselves before the Lord.
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
When King David returned to his palace his servants had not understood these things and David would explain to them the truth of the "Gospel"!
What is the truth of the "Gospel"?
Salvation is real!
Heaven is a real place!
Our real home is in Heaven and we can get there!
*****2Sa 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
2Sa 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
2Sa 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
To the Hebrews, when death occurred when life was just beginning, it was considered a curse.
King David had realized the truth of the Word of God and this would show in the Psalms he wrote after these all things had come to pass.
God had allowed the death of this child but God did not cause the death of this child!
This son of David, died before he could discern right from wrong and even at this time "was safe in Jesus Christ"!
This child was already together with all others who died in true "faith"!
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
These all would have been located in what is called Abraham's Bosom.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
All the Saints of the Old Testament and those up to the time of the Lord's resurrection were located in Abraham's Bosom because they had Abraham's "Faith" awaiting the coming Savior.
The Lord Jesus cleared out Abraham's Bosom when He rose from the dead!
We could think that King David could not know these things but we would have to ignore at least 50 of the Psalms of the Old Testament.
King David knew that one day at his own death, "he could go to that child but that child could not return to him".
It is in these things that we can have peace while still living, for those that go on before us in Jesus Christ.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
David then comforted his new wife with all these things that he knew.
*****2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
2Sa 12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
King David had been told by the Lord, he would have a son who would be a man of peace and his name would be Solomon.
1Ch 22:8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
1Ch 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
Nathan the prophet would be in charge of Solomon's education and Nathan called Solomon by a new name, Jedidiah.
Jedidiah means "beloved by Jehovah"! Jedid also means "akin to David".
During all this time, at least two years, Joab had kept Rabbah the Capitol city of Ammon under siege and the food and water was running out and the city was ready to fall.
*****2Sa 12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
2Sa 12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
2Sa 12:28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
2Sa 12:29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
King David knew that Joab would take advantage of every situation now, because of Uriah, but King David still was a man of war and he finally took his rightful place with his military and claimed the victory.
*****2Sa 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
2Sa 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Though this may sound like genocide it was not!
David placed this nation under a forced hard labor.
Instead of using the instruments of war, they would use the saw, and the axe.
Instead of the manufacture of war instruments, they would labor at the kilns making brick for building materials.
Instead of war machines they would use harrows and ploughs and use farm machines.
Ammon is now called Jordan and up until this day Jordan has never been a great military power in this region.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
2 Samuel 12; 1 Chronicles 20
When we last left King David, he had committed grievous sin, not only against the Lord, but also against a loyal man he had known for many years and we should not forget also against his own nation Israel.
All our actions will most every time affect the safety and livelihood of those around us.
What had God told Adam?
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof "thou shalt surely die".
Some will say that Adam did not die but the truth is that such a change took place not only in his physical condition but also in his mind and heart.
Adam truly began to die this day of his sin!
He began to die because he was no longer innocent.
He began to die because his hope of a pure life died.
He began to die because his peace died.
God has said to us:
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
King David would be restored by the "Grace" of God "BUT" King David could not escape the punishment of God.
The Prophet Nathan returned again to King David with another message from Jehovah God.
*****2Sa 12:1 And the LORD 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.
Thanks to a ruthless, self-serving general in King David's army and a wife who was silent for many reasons, it appeared that King David would get away with adultery and murder without it being common knowledge but God was not deceived by King David's actions.
Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: "and be sure your sin will find you out".
After David repented to God of his sin, he wrote these words:
Psa 52:7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
When we trust in the things of this world we will fail!
Nathan began to remind his king a of "The One" who had much greater authority than he had.
It would not be easy for Nathan to stand before this King and confront him with this thing that through murder and deceit had been kept so secretly for nearly 9 months.
It was easy for David to understand a rich man, poor man story, because David had been both poor and had become rich so Nathan continued.
*****2Sa 12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
2Sa 12:3 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 meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
If we believe another song that David wrote then we must believe that King David had spent this 9 month period under heavy conviction but he still could not bring himself to repentance.
Psa 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Psa 32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Uriah had only one wife Bathsheba and not many animals are much cuter than a baby lamb!
David on the other hand had many wives and even more concubines who he could have had at any time he chose.
As David listened to Nathan, he was living in this example of this rich man.
And Nathan continued.
*****2Sa 12:4 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.
Who was this traveler?
1) This traveler was Pride!
David had exalted himself above the Word of God.
When we think we know better than God, we have made our own selves gods!
When we reject the Word of God, we are saying that we know more than God does.
2) This traveler was also Temptation!
Who is the Tempter?
Satan!
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
When Satan understood that the Messiah would come from the line of David, he did everything he could to stop that from happening.
Satan knows the Word of God!
Listen as Satan quotes scripture but he also takes scripture out of context as much of this world does.
Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: "for it is written", He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
In this instance King David was also a "type" of Christ but we will see David's failure, where the Lord Jesus Christ succeeded and had no sin.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
This also would not be the last time that Satan would tempt King David.
1Ch 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
Satan will never quit bringing his temptations but when we yield to his temptations it just makes it easier for him to return with more stuff to hinder our relationship with God!
God says:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, "to stand".
God also says:
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Satan can be a frightening thing but the child of God, filled with the Holy Spirit "is his master" and Satan must flee if we resist him!
We resist him by getting closer to the Lord!
Snuggle up to Jesus and Satan has no power at all!
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
King David had failed in his temptation.
King David had been under conviction for almost 9 months.
This story(not a parable) that Nathan was saying made King David very angry.
Anger still came before repentance as David was still hiding his secret sin.
*****2Sa 12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
2Sa 12:6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
We should notice that even under conviction for his own sin, King David was more ready to judge another man's sin and this judgment was much greater than God's Word.
Exo 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
It was the adulterers who was to die.
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Fourfold would have been 16 animals.
And David adds, "because he had no pity", it was King David who had had no pity on his fellow man!
David had forgotten the truth in the Word of God:
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
King David's pronouncement of a fourfold restoration would soon came back on his own house.
1) In our lesson today we will see that this child born to Bathsheba will die.
2) Tamar, the virgin daughter of David will be raped by her half-brother Amnon.
3) Absalom would then murder Amnon out of revenge for his sister.
4) Absalom later would be killed by Joab, when he was already captured alive as he rebelled against his father King David.
David had been greatly blessed by God and was a man after God's own heart, but even the godliest men, especially those placed in a position to influence God's people, will be chastened because of the willful sin of disobedience.
And Nathan said.
*****2Sa 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
2Sa 12:8 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 moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
King David had put much effort into hiding this sin from all of Israel but he had not been able to hide it from God!
King David was now brought face to face with his sin. It was in his hands to confess and repent that sin to restore his fellowship with the Lord.
All sin can be forgiven but one and that is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ as our One and Only Savior!
By God's "Grace" He forgive our sin but we will always suffer the consequences of that sin!
The purpose God had for King David would continue because of God's covenant with him but David would now struggle his remaining years.
King David could not now reach his full potential in his service for the Lord!
What did Job say?
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Nathan's word from God was, "If you have a need come to Me".
God tells us this:
Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, "because ye ask not".
If we have a specific need we must go to the Lord "and not ever" go against the Lord!
Wherefore means "Why, for what reason".
Why had David failed?
*****2Sa 12:9 "Wherefore" hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed 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 Amnon.
King David had placed himself above the Word of God!
King David had committed adultery with another man's wife.
King David had committed murder even if that weapon of murder was not in his own hands.
King David had stolen the life and the future of a national hero but more so he had stolen this life from Jehovah God.
BUT, the thing that was the worst was that King David had despised the Word of God by forsaking the commandments of God!
It did not matter that is was an Ammonite who had actually slain Uriah, God knew King David was the cause of Uriah's death!
Where ever there is a "wherefore" you will always find a "therefore"!
"Therefore" means for this reason and answers the "wherefore".
*****2Sa 12:10 Now "therefore" the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
1) There is no sin beyond the mercy of God to the believer!
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound":
2) God has the "Mercy" and "Grace" to forgive our sin but we will still suffer from the results of that sin.
When God chastises it is not vengeance!
God does not take vengeance on those that love Him and repent of their sin!
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
King David had broken the purity of a family relationship, one that God honors the most, "the marriage of one man to one woman".
All God's Word is true but this one standard of the family, "the husband/wife relationship", is very dear to Our God.
God said:
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And God still says:
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
God had told King David that he could not build the Temple because he was a man of war.
For the rest of King David's life he would war not only with the enemies of Israel but also within his own house!
And the Lord describes some of these things and King David finally repents of his sin.
*****2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, 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 neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
2Sa 12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
2Sa 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
What did we learn from the Book of Job?
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
What will happen to King David?
God will remove that hedge of protection from around King David!
God said He would permit these things to be done because of David's unrepented sin!
And had David remained "faithful" none of these things would have happened that are mentioned here!
King David had judged his own sin to be four times worse because he had had no pity on Uriah!
David had tried to hide his sin.
All these things that God has mentioned through Nathan the Prophet, would in the open for all of Israel and all the world to see!
David finally repents of his sin, God forgives him, and because of His covenant, this sin will not be the cause of David's death.
But there are always other things that happen around us when we sin!
And all sin is ultimately against the Lord!
Our testimony is usually first affected.
David had given a great occasion to the enemies of God, to blaspheme Him!
Jesus tells us this:
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
David had allowed his light to grow dim before the enemies of God!
If you call yourself a Christian, there will always be some one observing you to see how you live.
The way we live our Christian lives is our greatest witnessing tool in this world!
This child from this adulterous relationship would also die.
We will soon see that God took this child to Heaven.
It is not punishment for this child to go straight to glory and miss out on life in this sin filled world!
*****2Sa 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
2Sa 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
It is not said that God brought on this sickness, it is only said that this baby was very sick.
This could have been from the stress that Bathsheba had gone through in this sinful relationship!
What do we know for sure?
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
And Nathan went back to his own home and when Solomon was born, we will see that this Nathan would be in charge of his education.
*****2Sa 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
We can pray anywhere but there is just something special about that altar in the House of God!
King David went to the Tabernacle of David and did what was needed!
This is exactly what we all should do for those that are sick!
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It was a merciful God that had forgiven King David and David sought for God's mercy on this child.
In the end this child got a complete healing because of God's mercy and the Lord did raise him on up to Heaven.
*****2Sa 12:17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2Sa 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
2Sa 12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
2Sa 12:20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
This baby was 7 days old when the Lord took it on to Heaven. David's servants were afraid to tell their king that the baby had died but some how we just know these things by the actions of others.
To their surprise David rose from his mourning.
Not only that but cleansed himself and went to the Tabernacle of David.
There in that place, King David submitted himself to the Lord. King David had been forgiven of his sin but he still knew his chastisement was still ahead.
The prophets tell us this Tabernacle of David will be raised again in the end times for this same reason. That that those that repent and humble them selves before the Lord can cleanse themselves and present themselves before the Lord.
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
When King David returned to his palace his servants had not understood these things and David would explain to them the truth of the "Gospel"!
What is the truth of the "Gospel"?
Salvation is real!
Heaven is a real place!
Our real home is in Heaven and we can get there!
*****2Sa 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
2Sa 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
2Sa 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
To the Hebrews, when death occurred when life was just beginning, it was considered a curse.
King David had realized the truth of the Word of God and this would show in the Psalms he wrote after these all things had come to pass.
God had allowed the death of this child but God did not cause the death of this child!
This son of David, died before he could discern right from wrong and even at this time "was safe in Jesus Christ"!
This child was already together with all others who died in true "faith"!
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Rom 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
These all would have been located in what is called Abraham's Bosom.
Luk 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
All the Saints of the Old Testament and those up to the time of the Lord's resurrection were located in Abraham's Bosom because they had Abraham's "Faith" awaiting the coming Savior.
The Lord Jesus cleared out Abraham's Bosom when He rose from the dead!
We could think that King David could not know these things but we would have to ignore at least 50 of the Psalms of the Old Testament.
King David knew that one day at his own death, "he could go to that child but that child could not return to him".
It is in these things that we can have peace while still living, for those that go on before us in Jesus Christ.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
David then comforted his new wife with all these things that he knew.
*****2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
2Sa 12:25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
King David had been told by the Lord, he would have a son who would be a man of peace and his name would be Solomon.
1Ch 22:8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
1Ch 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
Nathan the prophet would be in charge of Solomon's education and Nathan called Solomon by a new name, Jedidiah.
Jedidiah means "beloved by Jehovah"! Jedid also means "akin to David".
During all this time, at least two years, Joab had kept Rabbah the Capitol city of Ammon under siege and the food and water was running out and the city was ready to fall.
*****2Sa 12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
2Sa 12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
2Sa 12:28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
2Sa 12:29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
King David knew that Joab would take advantage of every situation now, because of Uriah, but King David still was a man of war and he finally took his rightful place with his military and claimed the victory.
*****2Sa 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
2Sa 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
Though this may sound like genocide it was not!
David placed this nation under a forced hard labor.
Instead of using the instruments of war, they would use the saw, and the axe.
Instead of the manufacture of war instruments, they would labor at the kilns making brick for building materials.
Instead of war machines they would use harrows and ploughs and use farm machines.
Ammon is now called Jordan and up until this day Jordan has never been a great military power in this region.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
No comments:
Post a Comment