Lessons from the Life of David and Bathsheba

1. Read: 2 Samuel 11:1-2

2. About the Text:

1) Those who have studied the Bible know of the contents of this chapter.

2) David looked with lust upon another man’s wife and committed adultery with her.

3) God doesn’t cover up the sins of faith heroes.

4) Faith heroes aren’t heroes because they didn’t sin, but because they didn’t let their sin define them.

5) The good thing is that we can learn from David’s mistakes.

6) “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4).

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. It was the time when kings went out to battle.

1) David was the king, but he was not at the battle.

2) He was at home.

2. Many people get into trouble when they are at places they should not be.

1) Proverbs 1 warns against being with those who are greedy of gain (10-19).

2) Proverbs 1:15 – “My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;”

3) Proverbs 5 warns against being with the sexually immoral.

4) Proverbs 5:8 – “Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house.”

5) Proverbs 23 warns of drinking alcohol.

6) Proverbs 23:31 – “Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;”

1. He wanted to know who this woman was whom he saw.

1) He looked at someone he had no business looking at.

2) He asked questions that he had no business asking.

2. He should have minded his own business instead.

1) “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

2) “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

1. He asked others to fulfill his sinful desires.

1) He asked someone to identify the woman.

2) He asked servants to bring the woman to his house.

3) David wouldn’t ask or go himself because his motives were impure.

2. We need to ask ourselves why we are involving others and others need to ask also.

1) Remember Aaron’s capitulation to the crowd in Exodus 32:1.

2) “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2).

1. David asked Bathsheba’s husband to come home.

1) He came home and gave a report.

2) But he would not go home to his wife because of his loyalty to his friends.

3) David got Uriah drunk, but even then he would not go home.

4) David had Joab put in the heat of the battle so he would die—murder.

5) All to cover up his sin.

2. What do we do to cover up our sins?

1) Lie, Cheat, Steal, Murder?

2) “They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, ‘Who will see them?’” (Psalm 64:5).

3) “He has said in his heart, ‘God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.’” (Psalm 10:11).

1. Uriah refused to abandon his fellow soldiers.

1) In doing so, he set an example for David.

2) David should have seen this example and done the right thing.

3) He let his fear of being caught move him away from what was right.

2. We should not let our fear dissuade us from following the right example.

1) “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Philippians 3:17).

2) “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:4).

1. David chose to cover up his sin by committing other sins.

1) He got Uriah drink.

2) He had Uriah murdered.

3) These were sins in themselves.

2. Sin does not get us out of sin.

1) “And why not say, ‘Let us do evil that good may come’?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8).

2) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

1. Nathan confronted David about his sin.

1) There was a death sentence placed on this sin by God.

2) David repented of his sin.

3) God chose not to exact that penalty.

4) David had to pay the price for his sin by watching the consequences of it in his children’s lives.

2. David’s penitence is recorded in Psalm 51.

3. We need to repent of our sins.

1) Today we have forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

2) There is no promise of death hanging over us.

3) “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

4) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

1. Let us remember these practical lessons from the sin of David and Bathsheba.

2. Invitation