Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to gather together in this sacred space, a place where we can put the world on pause, if only for a moment, and turn our hearts and minds to the wisdom and grace of our heavenly Father. Today, we will look at a narrative that is as human as it is divine, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. The story of King David, a man after God's own heart, yet a man who found himself entangled in a web of his own making.

We are going to walk through the pages of 2 Samuel, chapter 11. It's a passage that holds a mirror up to our own lives, revealing the areas where we may be vulnerable, where we may be prone to compromise, where we may be tempted to put our desires above our duty.

David's Dilemma

David, the king, the warrior, the poet, found himself in a predicament. It was spring, the time when kings traditionally went to war. But David, he decided to stay at home. He sent his men, his army, to fight in his stead. This was his first mistake. He neglected his duty, his responsibility as a king. He chose comfort over courage, ease over effort. And in doing so, he set himself up for a fall.

Consider the circumstances that led to David's second mistake. One evening, he was walking on the roof of his palace. From there, he saw a woman, Bathsheba, bathing. She was beautiful, and David was captivated. Instead of turning away, he sent someone to find out about her. This was his second mistake. He allowed his desires to override his discernment. He chose lust over love, passion over prudence. And this decision led him down a dangerous path.

David's third mistake was acting on his desires. He sent for Bathsheba, slept with her, and she became pregnant. Instead of confessing his sin, he tried to cover it up. He brought Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, back from the war, hoping that he would sleep with his wife and believe the child was his. But Uriah, loyal to his king and his comrades, refused to enjoy the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers were on the battlefield. This was David's third mistake. He chose deceit over honesty, manipulation over integrity. And his actions had far-reaching consequences.

When his plan to deceive Uriah failed, he decided to have him killed. He sent Uriah back to the war, carrying a letter that ordered his own death. Uriah was placed in the heat of the battle, then the troops withdrew, leaving him to be killed by the enemy. This was David's fourth mistake. He chose murder over mercy, power over principle. And this sin marked a turning point in his life.

In each of these instances, we see a man who was once described as "a man after God's own heart" making choices that were anything but godly. He chose to stay home from war, to indulge his desires, to deceive and ultimately to kill. Each decision, each action, was a step away from God, a step towards self-destruction.

But even in the midst of David's failures, we see glimpses of God's grace. Bathsheba became pregnant and gave birth to a son. And though this child died as a result of David's sin, Bathsheba later gave birth to another son, Solomon, who would become one of Israel's greatest kings. Despite David's mistakes, God was still at work, still weaving His redemptive plan.

David's story serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of our choices. When we choose to put our desires above our duty, when we choose to act on our impulses rather than our integrity, we set ourselves up for a fall. But it also serves as a testament to God's grace, His ability to bring good out of even our worst mistakes.

Dangers of Compromise

In the unfolding narrative of David's life, we find ourselves face to face with the dangers of compromise ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO