“No Exceptions”
1 Kings 15:5 & 2 Samuel 11:1-27
What will you be remembered for? Will people consider you a man or woman of God? Will people remember you as an effective minister of the gospel? After all is said and done, what will people remember about your life and ministry? The Bible gives us an example of a man of God named King David. How was David remembered by future generations?
1 Kings chapter 5 begins to give the account of Abijah, the great grandson of King David. According to the first few verses of chapter 5, King Abijah followed in the sins of his father and did not follow the God of his great grandfather David. David is remembered in verse 5 for following and obeying the commands of the Lord God of Israel. However, even though David was a man of devotion to God, he is also remembered for his tragic moral failure. Verse 5 says, “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life--except in the case of Uriah the Hittite” (1 Kings 15:5 NIV).
2 Samuel 11 gives the account of this exception in the life of David. In the previous chapters David has defeated various armies and has become very successful as the King of Israel. David has proved to be a great leader and a man after the heart of God. However, the story found in chapter 11 seems to be a stark contrast to the previous stories about David. After all, David was the shepherd boy who was anointed king. He was the brave young man who killed Goliath. He was the musician for Saul who would write most of the Psalms. He was even the victorious warrior who has gained the favor of his people. But chapter 11 describes David as an adulterer and a murderer. Now we see the story that 1 Kings 5:15 refers to as “…except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” As ministers of the gospel we should please God in all that we do. No Exceptions!
Seven Insights from the “Exception in the Life of King David”
#1: You’re dying in the present if your living in the past.
I don’t know about you, but in many ways I am not proud of my past. I have many past sins that I try to forget. I love to claim the promises that old things are passed away and everything has become new. I love the fact that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. I agree with Paul that I am not looking at the things behind me but instead I am looking ahead. These verses help us to forget our past failures and focus on the future. However, many times I like to look back at past successes and dwell upon them. It becomes easier for me to remember past victories and lean upon them.
David had just defeated many armies and nations in the past few chapters. He was successful against the Philistines, the Moabites, the Edomites, and others. But 2 Samuel 11:1 indicates that David decided not to go out to finish fighting the Ammonites. It appears to me that David had become content with past victories. He had the memories
of the past to lean on, but he did not have a vision of the future to lead on. If you’re living in the past, then you’re dying in the present.
The Central Bible College Spartans came into this past season as the defending NCCAA Division 2 National Champions. Throughout the course of this season these young men could not depend upon last year’s success to win another championship. As a matter of fact, last year’s championship just meant that they were the team to beat. They had a target on their back because of their past success. The CBC Spartans won nationals again this year. But it was not because they depended upon the victories of the past, it was because they were focused on winning this year’s championship.
In the same way, as Christians we cannot depend on yesterday’s success. The victories of yesterday have caused us to become a target for the enemy today. Once again, just like David, if you’re living in the past, then you’re dying in the present.
#2: When we are out of the way of our duty, we are in the way of temptation.
The second principal of this story comes from the same verse. Verse 1 describes the scene. “In the Spring, at the time when king’s go off to war…David remained in Jerusalem.” David should be out on the front lines leading his men to victory, but instead he chooses to remain in Jerusalem where he would soon be morally defeated. The ministry requires time for rest and relaxation. However, when duty calls, and it is time to lead, we must answer the call and be there.
One man said, “While Joab is laying siege to Rabbah, Satan is to David, and far sooner prevailed.” When I’m supposed to be on the front lines ministering, I do not want to be caught lusting on the roof top. Satan is looking for every chance he can get to attack ministers of the gospel. I do not want to give the enemy an extra chance because I am not doing what God has called me to do. When it’s time to go to war, I want to be on the front lines of victory.
#3: Satan attacks where passion is strongest and principle is weakest.
There are certain temptations that some may never struggle with. For me, drugs and alcohol were never much of a temptation. I would not place myself in the position to be tempted by them, but they have never been tempting to me. However, there are other areas of my life that I must continually safeguard from the enemy’s temptation. I believe that lust was an area of David’s life that he needed to guard from temptation.
Verses 2-4 give the account of David’s fall into temptation. As ministers of the gospel we must recognize the areas of our lives where our passion is strong and our principle is weak. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9 to take heed when we stand, lest we fall. Many other ministers have gone before us and fallen into the traps of the enemy. I believe that we should embrace Paul’s advice and guard against the enemy’s temptation, especially in the weak areas of our lives.
Thomas Jefferson once said, “God grant that men of principle would be our principal men.” I would like to echo similar words and say, God grant that men and women of principle would be our principal ministers. And God help us to guard our godly principles from our sinful passions.
#4: If sin is not resisted in the mind, it will soon become manifested in the man.
The battlefield is the mind. We are all aware of this concept, but I’m not sure that we fully understand its implications. Before we can act there is a process that takes place in the mind. Sin can never become an action until it has been processed through the mind. If sin can be resisted in the mind, then it will not be carried out in the individual.
Once again verses 2-4 describe this process. First of all, David sees Bathsheba. Then he begins to ponder her in his mind. Next he inquires about her. David should have defeated this lustful thought in his mind, but instead he starts the process of being defeated. After continually thinking about her, David does not care about the inquiry. He finds out that she is married to Uriah, one of David’s mighty men (2 Sam. 23). However, because David has continued to dwell upon sin, it no longer matters to him that she is married, and he sends for her. David and Bathsheba commit adultery because David did not win the battle of the mind.
Satan will use the beautiful and attractive things of the world to tempt the people of God. Satan will offer his best to try and destroy men and women of God. I’ve heard it said, “If you can be bought then Satan will pay the price.” Unfortunately this process of sin continues to destroy an individual. David would end up killing Uriah to try and cover up his sin with Bathsheba. I don’t believe that David planned to kill Uriah when he first noticed Bathsheba from the rooftop. But sin that is not conquered in the mind creates a spiral of destruction as it becomes manifested in the man.
Ted Bundy is a prime example of an individual who allowed the snowball effect of sin to destroy his life. The total number of people that he killed is uncertain but is at least 3 digits long. The FBI only found 44 of the bodies. Ted Bundy never intended to be one of America’s famous serial killers. It all started at the age of twelve when he began looking at pornographic pictures. Then he started watching pornographic movies. The first person he killed was an accident. He admitted that he was only trying to perform an act that he saw in one of these movies. He went on to say that he kept killing to kill the pain.
Judas is another example. I have a difficult time believing that he was out to get Jesus from the very beginning. No, Judas started his downward spiral when he began stealing a little money out of the treasury. This sinful addiction took over and eventually led him to betray Jesus. This process of sin would also lead him to his own suicidal death. If sin is conquered in the mind, it will not become manifested in the man.
#5: The sin of silence is just as significant as the sin of satisfaction.
The other characters in this story are not exactly innocent. For instance, in verse 4 of this chapter, Bathsheba is just as guilty as David. Bathsheba did not speak up when she was asked to go to bed with the king. Instead she willfully submitted to the king’s wishes. Joab is another character in the story whose silence is just as bad as David’s sins. In verses 16-25, Joab receives orders to have Uriah placed on the front lines to be killed. Joab customizes the king’s orders to make the plan less obvious, but he is just as guilty as David. Both Bathsheba and Joab had the opportunity to speak up and not give in to the evil desires of King David. However, their sins of silence proved to be just as costly as David’s sins of satisfaction.
As ministers of the gospel it is our responsibility to speak out against sin. The Bible makes it clear that we are to submit to leadership that is in line with the Word of God. However, the Bible also makes it very clear that we are not to remain silent when it comes to sin. Joab and Bathsheba are just as guilty for Uriah’s murder as David is. If we are aware of sin in leadership and allow it to continue, then we are as just as guilty in our silence.
#6: The power of your example should always exceed the position of your authority.
What exactly does that mean? No matter what position God may place you in, you should always strive to set an example of excellence. You should set the standard of leadership by the power of your example, and this example should exceed any leadership title. True leaders will have more influence by their example than by their position.
In verses 6-13, the story gives us an example to follow and an example to avoid. Uriah is a soldier in David’s army and is clearly in a lower position of authority. David is the King over the entire nation of Israel. However, which one of these individuals displays the example that we should follow. Uriah, obviously, allows the power of his example to exceed his position. While David, being the highest authority in the land leaves us with an example of adultery and murder.
David extends the invitation for Uriah to go home to his wife, but Uriah declines. In the times of war, soldiers would not have sexual relations with their wives. Uriah would not
compromise his commitment to his fellow soldiers by giving in to David’s invitation.
Verse 11 is the only statement recorded from Uriah. Uriah concludes with this statement
in verse 11: “…As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” Uriah has the attitude that as surely as David lives, he will not do such a thing. David has the attitude that even if Uriah has to die, he will do such a thing. Which attitude in ministry will we have? Our example should always rise above our position of leadership.
#7: When all is said and done, the final question is this: “Is God pleased?”
This final insight from the story sums it all up. After all is said and done, the final question is this: “Is God Pleased?” The end of this chapter concludes with verse 27. The first part of this verse indicates that David and Bathsheba get married and have a son. It seems as if David has gotten away with his sins. However, verse 27 does not stop there. The only time the Lord is mentioned in this chapter is in the last part of verse 27. “…But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”
God keeps perfect records. God never leaves us, nor forsakes us. This includes the privacy of our bedrooms and the times when we are hiding in sin. The Lord knew about Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden, and he knew about David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11. As ministers of the gospel we must always ask ourselves this question, “Is God pleased?”
Let me conclude with this brief story about Clay King Smith. Mr. Smith killed 5 innocent people, 2 women and 3 children, after tripping out one evening on drugs. In May of 2001, Clay King Smith was executed. A local news reporter in Arkansas had the chance to sit down and talk with Smith a year after the killings. While sitting in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Tucker Maximum Security Unit, Smith was interviewed and asked why he had done this horrible crime. Even after a year Smith still had no explanation. This was a stark contrast to the man that Smith used to be. Clay King Smith was once so deeply religious that he attended Central Bible College to become a preacher.
How is that possible? I can’t understand what would cause a man to kill 5 innocent people. But I do know that Clay King Smith went from being a man in Bible college pursuing ministry, to a man on death row awaiting execution. Smith failed to live a life with no exceptions. Clay King Smith lived with regret until the day he faced eternity because of the decision that he made. Smith did repent for this horrific sin, but he would never stand behind a pulpit and proclaim the Word of God because he made an exception that ruined his future ministry.
Clay King Smith and King David share similar stories. Both gave into temptation and both lived with regret. I hope that we can learn from their example and apply the seven principles above to our current and future ministries. Finally, I challenge you as men and
women of God, to live a life of no exceptions. Then if you live a life of no exceptions, you will die a death of no regrets.
