Negative Characteristics Of David Series

Text: 2 Samuel 11

Theme: Negative Character of a Good Person

Greetings: The Lord is Good and his Love endures forever!

2 Samuel 11:11 “Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!””

INTRODUCTION:

NEGATIVE CHARACTER TRAITS are harmful in a social context. They can affect interactions with other people and the quality of life of the individual who possesses them.

Negative traits could be stubbornness, arrogance, malice, laziness or dishonesty. Most of these activities of negative people are mostly manifested in politics, criminal environment, on the streets, and in institutions. Some characteristics of negativity are Judgemental on others with prejudice, Pessimism of the tendency to believe that the future is bleak.

Often, negative character traits result from inappropriate emotional development or are a form of defence against specific challenges in life.

According to some of the Psychologist, Negativity is a habit it becomes an automated response that becomes an unconscious response to a situation.

AUSTIN OLADOYE states that the question “Who am I?” and a sincere response to this question reveals the real character.

Think or write down your weaknesses. Life gives us plenty of opportunities to rectify our wrongs. Mostly our private life will become public, either when we are alive or after our demise.

An individual with good character has the same private and public life. There are no disparities between the persons you see publicly and that behind closed doors. What is done secretly will sooner or later come to light.

AUSTIN OLADOYE says that bad character can affect our children and generations. Proverbs 13:22 “Good people leave an inheritance to their children’s children.” Bad character destroys our peace, according to the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

The appearance of people with negative characteristics endangers the safety of individuals, social groups, institutions or people with different views, behaviour and activities (August 2022Social Communications Theory and Practice 14(1))

ANDREA LEIN, the Psychologist says that ‘Character traits are enduring qualities that shape thoughts, behaviours & moral actions. Character evolves through experiences, choices, and psychological influences.’ Character traits are the enduring qualities that define how individuals think, feel, and behave. They reflect a person’s values, attitudes, and moral compass, influencing their decisions and interactions. Character houses our morals and ethics, serves as the foundation for our actions and choices.

INTRODUCTION to 2 Samuel 11

“In the whole of the Old Testament literature there is no chapter more tragic or full of solemn and searching warning than this.” (G. Campbell Morgan).

Matthew Henry says:“The scripture is faithful in relating the faults even of those whom it most applauds”

There is a severe truthfulness about the way in which the Bible deals with human characters.

WE CAN Observe the occasions which led to this sin. They are neglect of his duty, love of ease, and a wandering eye.

EXAMINATIONS

let us examine the text:

1. David Remained in Jerusalem (V.1):

There was a tremendous victory when David led the battle (2 Samuel 10). But now, David remained at Jerusalem but supposed to be in the battle. Cambridge Dictionary: “Idle hands are the devil's playground! The devil finds work of idle hands!” David Guzik says: ‘The Hebrew verb form of walked suggests that David paced back and forth on the roof. He couldn’t sleep and was uneasy – uneasy because he wasn’t where God wanted him to be.’

Columnist Herb Caen wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

2. David slept with Bathsheba (V.4):

Chronologists calculate that David was about fifty years old at this time. David knew this was wrong, yet he did it. David learned that the woman came from a notable family. She was from the upper classes. Her father was Eliam, one of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34). Her grandfather was Ahithophel – one of David’s chief counsellors (2 Samuel 23:34, 2 Samuel 15:12). David learned that Bathsheba was married, and the wife of another of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8, 39).

3. Uriah slept at the entrance (V.9):

Uriah was more honourable than David or Bathsheba. He believed that his place was with the army. His fellow soldiers were enduring hardship for the sake of their country and he couldn’t enjoy himself and his normal life with a good conscience until his mission was complete.