The Rise And Fall Of David

The rise and fall of David

By: Rev. John C. McCaherty

November 17, 2002

Murphy Baptist

Text: II Samuel 11, 12, Psalms 51

Introduction: David was a hero of the faith, mentioned throughout the Bible as God’s man, after Gods own heart. Mentioned in Hebrews 11 (the great faith chapter),

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

Wow! What a legacy to leave behind; think of it, David the little Sheppard boy that

Son of Jesse, in the line and heritage of Jesus Christ

Anointed by Samuel

Kills Goliath

Becomes King

Dances before the Lord

And yet here in our text he allows himself to become obsessed by the beauty of a woman that was not his. Let me ask a question, do you think that the David that all of these great things happened to, would have ever thought that he would be caught up in the adulterous, murdering situation that he is in at this point in his life. I really don’t think that it was his intention when he got up that morning to do these things… but let’s look at the progression of Sin in David’s life

1st Thing to go wrong:

II Sam. 11:1-2

• At the time when Kings go out to battle…. It was a normal thing for the Kings of the land to go to battle with their men and to lead them into victory and collect the spoils, God had blessed David many times in battle.

• David tarried…. For whatever reason, David decided this time to stay home, take a nap. (the old saying goes, ‘idol hands are the devils work’) as he rose from the nap, he looked and saw this beautiful woman.

2nd thing to go wrong.

• Vs2-3 Once he saw her, instead of turning away he looked upon her and began to desire her, then sent his servants to find out about her... At this point when he found out who she was he could have went about his own business and not sinned, James 1:14-15 “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed” “then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

• David, allowed the lust of his heart to devise away to have the woman, and then to cover up his sin

• How many times have we tried to cover up our sins? Sin cannot be covered by anything we do, no amount of planning or deception can cover sin.

Tell the remainder of the story of the sin of David,

1. sleeps with bath-Sheba

2. Sends for Uriah, to have him sleep with his wife, then the baby would be perceived to be Uriah’s and David’s sin would be covered.

3. Uriah won’t do it, it would be wrong to have the luxuries of his home while his brethren were in the fields.

4. Uriah sent to the front lines to be killed, David knew Uriah would be killed, and that would cover his sin, he could marry Bath-Sheba and know would know the difference.

5. David’s plan comes together.

6. Nathan, the prophet comes and shows David his sin.

God’s Judgments

II Sam 12:7-12

• God had Given David everything

• David could not hide his sin from God (by the way neither can you)

• Judgment passed

David’s Repentance

II Sam: 13-19

• Recognized the Sin – Part of repentance is the act of agreeing with God that you have sinned, some will never do this, do to pride or hard hearts or whatever they have refused to acknowledge that sin to God.

• Act of Repentance – There is more to repentance than just saying “yeah Lord, I sinned” there is the act of repentance. When someone tells you they are sorry, and yet they never cease the thing in which they are supposedly sorry for, are they truly sorry?

• David’s act of repentance started with fasting and prayer.

• Vs. 16- Laid upon the earth all night, WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME 2 MIN PRAYER AT AN ALTER, WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING BEFORE A HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD AND AGREEING THAT WE ARE SINNERS AND ASKING FOR MERCY...

What could David possibly have said to God?

• Psalms 51

• Mercy, Wash Me, Cleanse Me

• Acknowledged Sin, and who he had sinned against.

Vs. 6 God desires truth in the inward parts, God does not care what things look like on the outside, what he cares about is what the heart looks like