The Anatomy Of Adultery Series

OPENING

SENTENCE: Something that stirred up controversy some weeks ago was the US vice-president, Mike Pence stated to the Hill that he practiced the “Billy Graham” rule.

INTRODUCTION: That meant that he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife and that he won’t attend events featuring alcohol without her by his side, either. This one of the four things developed by the evangelist and his to team avoid any hint of sexual indiscretion.

When Pence’s position became public the rule was immediately criticized for restricting opportunities for women to network with male colleagues. Tracey Bianchi said, "women are marginalized and cut out of opportunities to network, share their ideas, and advance in the organization." Laura Roberts tweeted, “What the Billy Graham rule does is to reduce women to sexual temptation objects, things to be avoided, it is dehumanizing, anti-gospel” and “It treats temptation to stray from one’s marriage as unavoidable, and present in every encounter with a woman, locating sin her, not you.”

TRANSITION

SENTENCE: While I agree that the rule has the potential for abuse I empathize with its intent.

TRANSITION: It was intended to avoid the scandals that have plagued evangelists and ministers over the years. A lot of adulterous affairs have begun with simple innocent encounters of members of the opposite sex. I have also seen some good men whose image was destroyed because of a woman scorned or falsely accused of inappropriate advances.

Allen Petersen, citing his own experience says, “I had just arrived in a Michigan town to begin a series of meetings in the church on Sunday. It was a small, colorless community, common people, no sophis¬tication. At this Saturday night get-acquainted reception, a church woman sat down beside me… For a moment we exchanged pleasantries. Then in a matter-of-fact way she handed me a piece of paper with her address and phone number. "I thought you might get lonely while you're here. If you'd like to drop over some afternoon, give me a call. My husband is gone all week, working in Detroit. The last speaker we had at the church came over several times; I think you might enjoy it." “I thought you might get lonely while you're here.”

SAY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY: The Bible gives us the perfect account of how simple innocent encounters can lead to something more. In that light, this morning I want to ask, “What does David’s affair with Beth Sheba teach us about adultery?

TEXT: II Samuel 11

THEME: Being committed to God and our spouse protects you from inappropriate relationships.

What does David’s affair with Beth Sheba teach us about adultery?

I. Most affairs start with an innocent momentary temptation. (1-3)

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. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

A. Temptation can come in the course of a normal day. with things going well.

Like David, most affairs start from innocent encounters. As Florence Littauer has said, “No man or woman gets up in the morning and looks out the window and says, “My, this is a lovely day! I’ll guess I’ll go out and commit adultery. Yet many do it anyway.” Most men are stimulated visually and have numerous episodes in any given day where brief glimpses of attraction quickly fade. But, that is where that is where his choices begin. Either man will govern his passions and find peace, or he lets himself be dominated by them and becomes unhappy,

B. Temptation can come when you are unprepared, relaxed and confident.

It was a normal day and everything was going fine. The nation was victorious in war and expanding its boundaries. Nothing would indicate the string of events that would soon be set in motion to destroy David’s reputation. As E Allen Petersen has stated, “I believe this affair came as something of a surprise to both David and Bathsheba. Neither one had planned for this an hour before it happened. It was not the result of flirtation or lecherous conniving. David was a man after God's own heart and Bathsheba was a faithful wife to her courageous and patriotic husband. David was just coming off a season of prosperity and fame."

C. Temptation convinces you that the thing you desire is good for you. James 1:13-15

Temptation never considers the consequences- it only considers the immediate gratification. James describes it this way: “… each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”