Failure In Paradise Series

INTRODUCTION, John Maxwell in his book Failing Forward tells of a story Sergio Zyman, a vice president in fortune 500 company. After 20 years of lagging sales, Sergio believed the company needed a fresh approach.

People listen to Sergio, after all in 1982 Sergio introduced the company to a new product and sales soared. So when Sergio introduced his idea of a new product in 1985 little did he know the negative reaction that greeted him.

What did Sergio invent?

NEW COKE – It lasted 79 days and cost the company 100 million dollars and Sergio lost his job.

What a huge mistake.

Some would say it was a colossal failure

If we are honest we have all made mistakes – maybe our mistakes were not as costly as Sergio’s but you know we have all made mistakes.

In our series in the life of David we have discovered a giant killer, a friend, a shepherd and tonight we are going to discover a person who makes mistakes.

Before we look at the life of David in 2 Samuel we need to understand the difference in David and Sergio Zyman

Sergio made a mistake in marketing – it cost his company money and eventually his job.

David made a mistake in morality and it cost him dearly as we shall see.

As we look in the life of David we must understand he is no different from any of us – we all struggle in the area of sin. Paul wrote all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Tonight I want us to deal – not with our sin by what do we do after we sin.

It has been said that a man does not go to hell because of his sin but he goes to hell because of the way he deals with his sin.

BACKGROUND OF OUR TEXT

2 Sam 11:1, In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

David meets Bath Sheba

A look becomes a leer, a leer becomes a lust and a lust becomes a sin.

AS a result of the sin – Bath Sheba becomes pregnant

David begins a plan to conceal his sin,

Urriah is brought home from the battle

Go home be with your wife

Go home and be with your wife – Not while the Lord’s army is fighting – Urriah was a better man drunk then David was sober.

The letter to Joab – at the fiercest point of the battle draw back and leave Urriah alone.

The Result of the scheme – 2 Sam 11:19-27

He instructed the messenger: "When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ’Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from the wall? Who killed Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn’t a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ If he asks you this, then say to him, ’Also, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’" The messenger set out, and when he arrived he told David everything Joab had sent him to say. The messenger said to David, "The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open, but we drove them back to the entrance to the city gate. Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s men died. Moreover, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead." David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: ’Don’t let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.’ Say this to encourage Joab. "When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

Now that the deed is done I want you to notice 3 actions David took to handle his failure

READ 12:1

1. David was open to accountability

The role of Nathan

Not much in known about this man

He was willing to confront – THE KING!

This was probably the mort important characteristic of Nathan, Gal 6:1, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.

The role of David

He was capable of being wounded – he realized he made a mistake.