Sermons Of The Spiritual Realm Iv: What God Will Do When Sin Has Done Its Due Series

THE WONDER OF WHAT GOD WILL DO WHEN SIN HAS DONE ITS DUE

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall!” A trite but true saying we might have used to assuage our anxiety when we were faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. On paper, for example, it may look as if a weaker opponent in a contested event has no chance. Yet, when push comes to shove, adrenalin - physical, mental, spiritual - kicks in to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat.

In this Bible study series, The Wonder of It All, we look further into the life of David to see what God can do to and through a person totally devoted to Him.

On the one hand, we may attribute David’s courage - going up against Goliath - partly to his youth, but we must not overlook that quality of spiritual adrenaline found mostly among seasoned veterans of Christian warfare.

David was fully aware of Goliath’s superior physical strengths and military skills, but he was much more attuned to Who was with him and Whose Will he was sent into battle to accomplish. David never wavered in his devotion to God.

Thus, in his heart David knew that, with God in charge and a sling shot in his hand, indeed “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”.

With God on our side, how can we lose? His grace is sufficient! The wonder of God’s marvelous grace is greater than any foe we will ever go up against!

Yes, we’ve seen David at his finest . . . but, at our age and stage in life, we have learned that it’s when things are going well we must be on our P’s and Q’s and guard our B’s (behaviors) caused by “modern” views influenced by that which is visceral and temporal, rather than that which is spiritual.

In his humility, David had conquered the mighty Goliath, gone on to greater and mightier accomplishments because of his devotion to God. You name it . . . there was none greater than David – shepherd, giant slayer, true friend, loyal servant, skilled warrior, man after God’s own heart, man of devotion to God, king who served God, spokesman for God, psalmist who praised God. None was greater than David in devotion to God!

Yet, on the other hand, we cannot overlook the fact that David was human and, therefore, subject to assaults upon one’s character wrought by sinful desires that conceivably result in sinful behavior.

We cannot explain away his sins, or even attempt to justify them. He who rose to highest fame, and earned highest acclaim, succumbed to sinful behaviors unbecoming of the Lord’s anointed.

For a short while, then over a longer period, David’s views of morality and legality were wrongly influenced by worldly thinking . . . He got caught up in the notion that he could “get away with it” . . . through lies and deception.

In the story of David’s affair with Bathsheba, and his subsequent efforts to erase the evidence, we see that that which had been said of Goliath must now be said of David: The bigger they are, the harder they fall – 2 Samuel 11:2-5 . . .

David’s first mistake was not going where he should have gone – into battle with his men – then, not staying where he should have stayed – at home minding his own business. Don’t most folks tend to get into trouble when they shirk personal responsibility, become too idle, get bored and, in search of excitement, wander off the premises?

It has been observed in our lifetime repeatedly that, when people in high places resort to lies and deception to conceal misdeeds, the cover-up turns out to be worse than the crime. Mama told me to tell the truth and have nothing to worry about!

David had plenty to worry about. Bathsheba’s husband returned from the battlefield at David’s command but, in an honorable gesture of respect toward his fellow warriors, did not go home to be with his wife as David thought he would to make it appear that he was the father of the baby to be born.

Humiliated, and haunted by the proverb, “your sins will find you out”, David used his position and power to have Uriah placed on the front line so he would be killed – which would silence him and keep him from telling the truth about where he was or was not at the time of his wife’s conception. That way, David could tell Bathsheba what not to say and tell the story in a way that suited his self-interests.

Not so fast, David! God is not through with you yet! God anointed you for a purpose - which cannot be fulfilled if there is hidden sin in your heart that has not been dealt with. Time for divine intervention!