This morning we're going to partake again of the Lord's table.
The table has bread on it and it's got grape juice.
And as most of you here know, the bread represents the body of Jesus
and the cup represents the blood of Jesus.
These are heavy symbols.
We're here this morning to remember a death.
And this is hard.
It's heavy.
But this death, the death of Jesus, is the most important thing that there is to know
and believe and embrace in the entire universe.
To appreciate this death, we need to first acknowledge our sins.
And we're going to do that this morning with the help of King David,
David, a man who lived long ago.
David, even though he was a man after God's own heart,
was a sinner just like me and just like you.
Even though he loved goodness and righteousness,
even though he was a worship leader and composed music expressing his love for God,
he was still a sinner just like you and me.
If you know the story of David, God chose him to be the king of Israel.
And through great hardship and trial, God established David as the king of all the nation
after the death of King Saul.
And God gave David amazing success in battle against all the surrounding enemy nations.
But David, too, was a sinner like you and me.
We're going to read his story this morning in 2 Samuel chapter 11.
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,
David sent Joab, the commander of the army,
out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.
They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
But David remained in Jerusalem.
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.
And David sent someone to find out about her.
The man said,
She's Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam,
and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
Then David sent messengers to get her.
She came to him.
And he slept with her.
Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.
Then she went back home.
The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying,
I'm pregnant.
So David sent this word to Joab,
Send me Uriah the Hittite.
And Joab sent him to David.
When Uriah came to him,
David asked him how Joab was,
how the soldiers were,
and how the war was going.
Then David said to Uriah,
Go down to your house and wash your feet.
So Uriah left the palace,
and a gift from the king was sent after him.
But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace
with all his master's servants,
and did not go down to his house.
David was told,
Uriah did not go home.
So he asked Uriah,
Haven't you just come from a military campaign?
Why didn't you go home?
Uriah said to David,
The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,
and my commander Joab and my lord's men
are camped in the open country.
How could I go to my house to eat and drink
and make love to my wife?
As surely as you live,
I will not do such a thing.
Then David said to him,
Stay here one more day,
and tomorrow I will send you back.
So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.
At David's invitation,
he ate and drank with him,
and David made him drunk.
But in the evening,
Uriah went out to sleep on his mat
among his master's servants.
He did not go home.
In the morning,
David wrote a letter to Joab
and sent it with Uriah.
In it, he wrote,
Put Uriah out in front
where the fighting is fiercest.
Then withdraw from him
so he will be struck down and die.
So while Joab had the city under siege,
he put Uriah at a place
where he knew the strongest defenders were.
When the men of the city came out
and fought against Joab,
some of the men in David's army fell.
Moreover,
Uriah the Hittite died.
Joab sent David a full account of the battle.
He instructed the messenger,
When you've finished giving the king
this account of the battle,
the king's anger may flare up,
and he may ask you,
Why did you get so close to the city to fight?
Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?
Who killed Abimelech, son of Jerob-Besheth?
Didn't a woman drop an upper millstone on him from the wall
so that he died in Thebez?
Why did you get so close to the wall?
If he asks you this,
then say to him,
Moreover,
your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.
The messenger set out,
and when he arrived,
he told David everything Joab had sent him to say.
The messenger said to David,
The men overpowered us and came out against us in the open,
but we drove them back to the entrance of the city gate.
Then the archers shot arrows at your servants from the wall,
and some of the king's men died.
Moreover,
your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.
David told the messenger,
Say this to Joab,
Don't let this upset you.
The sword devours one as well as another.
Press the attack against the city and destroy it.
Say this to encourage Joab,
When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead,
she mourned for him.
After the time of mourning was over,
David had her brought to his house,
and she became his wife and bore him a son.
But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
The Lord sent Nathan to David.
When Nathan came to him,
he said,
There were two men in a certain town,
one rich and the other poor.
The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle,
but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought.
He raised it,
and it grew up with him and his children.
It shared his food,
drank from his cup,
and even slept in his arms.
It was like a daughter to him.
Now a traveler came to the rich man,
but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle
to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him.
Instead,
he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man
and prepared it for the one who had come to him.
David burned with anger against the man
and said to Nathan,
As surely as the Lord lives,
the man who did this must die.
He must pay for that lamb four times over
because he did such a thing and had no pity.
Then Nathan said to David,
You are the man.
This is what the Lord,
the God of Israel,
says,
I anointed you king over Israel,
and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
I gave your master's house to you
and your master's wives into your arms.
I gave you all Israel and Judah,
and if all this had been too little,
I would have given you even more.
Why did you despise the word of the Lord
by doing what is evil in his eyes?
You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword
and took his wife to be your own.
You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
Now, therefore,
the sword will never depart from your house
because you despised me
and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite
to be your own.
This is what the Lord says,
Out of your own household,
I'm going to bring calamity on you.
Before your very eyes,
I will take your wives
and give them to one who is close to you,
and he will sleep with your wives
in broad daylight.
You did it in secret,
but I will do this thing
in broad daylight before all Israel.
Then David said to Nathan,
I have sinned against the Lord.
Nathan replied,
The Lord has taken away your sin.
You are not going to die,
but because by doing this
you have shown utter contempt for the Lord,
the son born to you will die.
This is a heart-wrenching story.
Even the best of men
can commit the worst of sins.
He knew what he was supposed to be doing.
It was the time when kings go off to war
and probably many of the other kings
were out there on the battlefield
with their armies,
but this king decided to stay home
where it was comfortable
and cozy
while his men
risked their lives.
David's men were out there
sleeping on the hard ground
in tents.
And what was David doing?
Enjoying the comforts
of his palace.
Going for a leisurely stroll
up on the roof.
He notices
a beautiful woman
bathing
and his heart
is overcome
with lust.
After finding out
that she is the wife
of another man,
he decides to take her anyway.
To be with her
as if she was his wife.
Deliberately
breaking the seventh commandment.
We don't know.
Perhaps David was thinking
I'm the king.
I can do as I please.
But then he found out
that Bathsheba
was now pregnant
with his child.
And he goes to
great lengths
as we just heard
to cover up
and to hide
this evil thing
that he had done.
He sends a messenger
all the way out
to where the army
is camped
to bring back
the husband
of Bathsheba.
all part of
an elaborate plan
to cover this up
expecting that he will go
and be with his wife
and he can make it look like
all along
this is Uriah's child.
But Uriah can't stop
thinking
about what his companions
his fellow soldiers
are going through
as they're camped out
in the open
in tents.
Could he really go
and enjoy the comforts
of his home
and his wife
and then go back
out to the army
and tell them
all about the great time
that he had
and the special treatment
he got for the king
while they were out there
risking their lives
missing their wives
and families?
It seems that
the harder David tries
to get Uriah
to go home
and to be with his wife
and to cover up
this sin
the more obvious
it becomes
that David
is in a wicked
frame of mind
here he is
feasting with Uriah
in the palace
making him drunk
hoping to get him
to do
what he wants him
to do
while his men
are out there
fighting
putting their lives
on the line
finally David
decides to do
another great evil
to cover up
his sin
he breaks
the sixth commandment
and he
gives the order
for Bathsheba's
husband
to be killed
to be murdered
and he seems
so cold
and calm
and calculated
about it
he even sends
the message
sealing Uriah's
fate with him
and what is
David's response
when he hears
that Uriah
is dead
don't worry
about it
people die
all the time
in battle
don't let it
bother you
and with Uriah
out of the way
David
carries out
the fullness
of his adultery
taking Uriah's
wife
to be his own
problem solved
thought David
I wonder
how do you see
David
in this story
there he is
sinning
and sinning
some more
and then
trying to cover
it up
and then
sinning
some more
all the while
not too bothered
it would seem
by what he has
done
it's not
that bad
I mean
I've made
some mistakes
but as long
as nobody
knows about
them
it'll be
alright
who's the hero
of this story
it's certainly
not David
we probably
tend to look
at Uriah
as the hero
and he certainly
shines here
as a man
of character
but he's also
the tragic
casualty
imagine
yourself
in Uriah's
shoes
how would
you feel
if you were
him
and you knew
what your
king
had done
to your
dear wife
no
the real
hero
in this
story
is the
good
and just
God
who will
not allow
David
to just
get away
with this
and so
God
sends
his
prophet
Nathan
God
gives
Nathan
the exact
words
to bring
the
fullest
conviction
possible
to David's
heart
David
even
goes so
far
as to
pronounce
the sentence
that he
deserves
before he
realizes
that it's
him
this story
is about
he says
the man
who did
this
must die
because he
did such
a thing
and had
no pity
you
are the
man
said
God
to David
David
realized
that he
couldn't hide
his sin
from God
God
was going
to ensure
that he
did not
get away
with it
and David
crumbled
in repentance
before the
Lord
he said
I have
sinned
against
the
Lord
David
was broken
in his
heart
as he
admitted
what he
had done
that he
was guilty
and that
God
was right
and it's
here in the
midst of all
this that
David came
to pray
the words
we read
in Psalm
51
if you have
your Bible
open
you're welcome
to turn to it
what was
David's prayer
right in the
midst of this
it was
this
have mercy
on me
oh God
according
to your
unfailing
love
according
to your
great
compassion
blot out
my
transgressions
wash
away
all my
iniquity
and cleanse
me from
my sin
for I
know
my
transgressions
and my
sin is
always
before me
against
you
you only
have I
sinned
and done
what is
evil
in your
sight
so you
are right
in your
verdict
and justified
when you
judge
surely I
was sinful
at birth
sinful from
the time
my mother
conceived
me
yet you
desired
faithfulness
even in
the womb
you taught
me wisdom
in that
secret
place
cleanse
me
with
hyssop
and I
will be
clean
wash
me
and I
will be
whiter
than
snow
let me
hear joy
and gladness
let the
bones
you have
crushed
rejoice
hide
your face
from my
sins
and blot
out all
my
iniquity
create
in me
a pure
heart
oh
God
and renew
a steadfast
spirit
within me
do not
cast me
from your
presence
or take
your
holy
spirit
from me
restore
to me
the joy
of your
salvation
and grant
me a
willing spirit
to sustain
me
then I
will teach
transgressors
your ways
so that
sinners
will turn
back to
you
deliver me
from the
guilt
of bloodshed
oh
God
you who
are God
my savior
and my
tongue
will sing
of your
righteousness
open my
lips
Lord
and my
mouth
will declare
your praise
you do
not delight
in sacrifice
or I
would bring
it
you do
not take
pleasure
in burnt
offerings
my
sacrifice
oh
God
is a
broken
spirit
a
broken
and
contrite
heart
you
God
will not
despise
David
came to
feel
the
depth
of his
guilt
have
you
David
acknowledged
to God
the
ugliness
and the
evil
of the
things
that he
had
done
have
you
David
knew
that
sinning
was a
perpetual
problem
in his
life
my
sin
is
always
before
you
do
you
know
that
David
came to
agree
with God
about the
rightness
of his
verdict
have
you
David
was truly
broken
over
his
sin
are
you
this
prayer
that
David
prays
here
this
is
what
repentance
is
it's
what
it
looks
like
look
at
what
David
asks
God
to
do
in
verse
7
cleanse
me
he
prays
what
David
means
is
that
he
knows
the
evil
things
he
has
done
have
made
him
filthy
in
the
sight
of
God
wash
me
he
prays
and
I
will
be
whiter
than
snow
my
guilt
my
sins
have
made
me
dirty
they
have
stained
me
but
notice
the
faith
that
David
expresses
here
God
if
you
wash
me
you
can
make
me
clean
you
can
take
that
stain
away
the
dirtiness
of
my
sin
verse
9
David
says
blot
out
all
my
iniquity
it's
as though
he's
saying
I
know
God
that
you
keep
the
official
records
on
everything
that
I
have
done
and
I
can't
change
what
I've
done
or
what
I
deserve
but
you
can
spill
the
ink
over
that
part
of
my
record
so
that
even
you
can't
read
it
or
see
it
anymore
and
it's
as though
David
in the
midst
of
all
this
realizes
what
has
led
him
to
do
this
evil
in
the
first
place
I
mean
it's
if
God
forgives
and
wipes
away
the
sin
cleans
off
the
record
that
deals
with
the
past
but
what
about
the
future
David
knows
that
he
is
inclined
to
sin
again
even
after
all
this
he
realizes
that
there's
not
just
his
actions
that
have
been
dirty
but
that
the
dirtiness
of
his
actions
has
come
out
of
the
dirtiness
of
his
heart
and
so
he
prays
create
in
me
a
pure
heart
oh
God
take
away
completely
that
dirtiness
that
sinfulness
in
my
heart
God
do you
long
for a
pure
heart
do you
long
for God
to take
away
every
selfish
and
sinful
desire
of your
heart
and make
you
clean
there's
nothing
on this
earth
that I
long
for
more
verse
14
is
rather
jarring
David
prays
deliver
me
from
the
guilt
of
blood
shed
you
who
are
God
my
savior
what
do
you
think
do
you
think
that
God
should
answer
that
prayer
do you
think
he should
forgive
this
adulterous
murderer
and
spare him
the punishment
that he
deserves
it's as
though
David
realizes
there's
no
kind
of
sacrifice
that I
can
bring
that
will
truly
atone
for
what
I've
done
verse
16
you
do
not
delight
in
sacrifice
or
I
would
bring
it
you
do
not
take
pleasure
in
burnt
offerings
what
does
David
have
to
give
no
amount
of
bulls
or
rams
or
grain
offerings
is
really
going
to
do
it
all
I
have
to
offer
you
God
is
my
broken
heart
and
my
repentant
spirit
should
God
forgive
this
adulterous
murderer
and
spare
him
the
punishment
he
deserves
looking
back
to
verse
one
David
appeals
to
the
mercy
of
God
to
the
compassion
of
God
to
the
unfailing
love
of
God
and
as
the
story
goes
God
does
forgive
David
of
all
this
wickedness
so
that
David
does
not
receive
the
punishment
he
deserves
we
read
this
back
in
2
Samuel
chapter
12
verse
13
David
said
to
Nathan
I
have
sinned
against
the
Lord
Nathan
replied
the
Lord
has
taken
away
your
sin
you
are
not
going
to
die
but
because
by
doing
this
you
have
shown
utter
contempt
for
the
Lord
the
son
born
to
you
will
die
this
is
maybe
the
hardest
part
of
the
story
for
all
of
us
how
God
why
does
God
seem
to
punish
the
innocent
child
instead
of
David
how
could
he
do
that
why
should
the
innocent
son
of
David
bear
the
punishment
for
his
sin
I
wish
I
could
tell
you
this
morning
that
the
child
doesn't
die
but
the
child
does
die
at
some
point
we
have
to
accept
by
faith
that
God
reserves
the
right
to
give
life
and
to
take
it
away
from
any
one
of
us
at
any
moment
he
is
God
and
we
are
not
he
is
pure
he
is
free
from
sin
he
is
just
he
only
ever
does
what
is
right
and
we
are
not
as
David
just
expressed
we
are
sinful
even
from
the
womb
so
hard
as
it
is
we
simply
have
to
accept
this
by
faith
God
is
not
being
unjust
with
this
punishment
and
once
we
come
to
terms
with
that
we
see
a ray
of
grace
God
is
pointing
to
something
here
should
God
forgive
this
adulterous
murderer
and
spare
him
the
punishment
he
deserves
should
God
forgive
you
for
all the
wicked
things
that
you've
done
and
spare
you
the
punishment
that
you
deserve
amazingly
God
loves
this
man
David
with
an
unfailing
love
despite
what
he's
done
amazingly
God
has
compassion
on him
despite
what
he's
done
and
amazingly
God
can
take
away
David's
guilt
David's
sin
he can
blot
out
his
transgressions
and
he does
it
it would
seem
by punishing
the innocent
son of
David
for his
sin
now let
me be
clear
David's
innocent
child
dying
did not
atone
for David's
sin
it
couldn't
but it
does
foreshadow
an innocent
son of
David
who would
come
at a
later
time
a son
of David
whose
undeserved
death
is
enough
to
atone
for
David's
sin
I'm
talking
about
Jesus
who
died
not
just
for
David's
sin
but
for
mine
and
for
yours
for
the
sins
of the
whole
world
does
it
seem
fair
does
it
seem
just
that
God
would
punish
the
innocent
Jesus
to
take
away
our
sins
yet
because
God
is
compassionate
and
merciful
and
full
of
this
unfailing
love
for
you
and
for
me
he
chose
to
punish
the
son
of
David
Jesus
to
take
away
our
sins
so
that
we
could
be
spared
the
punishment
that
we
deserve
and
that's
what
this
table
behind
me
is
all
about
it's
here
we
remember
the
death
of
Jesus
his
body
was
broken
his
blood
was
shed
and
he
didn't
deserve
it
we
did
he
did
it
so
that
we
could
be
cleansed
and
washed
so
that
stain
that
we
couldn't
remove
could
be
gone
and
so
if
you
have
repented
like
David
did
of
your
sins
and
you
are
trusting
in
Jesus
and
his
death
to
save
you
to
forgive
you
to
atone
for
you
I
want
to
invite
you
to
partake
together
with
us
of
the
bread
and
the
cup
I'll
ask
Dave
Spellacy
and
Rod
if
you
would
come
up
and
pass
out
the
elements
and
if
you
have
done
this
if
you've
repented
and
believed
in
Jesus
you're
welcome
to
partake
you're
welcome
to
remember
with
us
and
if
not
please
just
signal
with
your
hand
to
let
the
elements
pass
you
by
we're
going
to
wait
until
everyone
who
wishes
to
partake
has
been
served
and
then
I'll
give
thanks
and
we'll
eat
and
drink
all
together
to
Sill
van
r
on
another
can
t
use
c
to
Amen.
Father in heaven, we thank you so much for your mercy and your compassion.
We have sinned, all of us, so many times we can't even keep count.
But we thank you that Jesus' blood can atone, can wash clean, can blot out our transgressions completely.
Amen.
We pray the prayer of David.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation.
Thank you for this gift and this love.
In Jesus' name, amen.
So, there's my need.
Thank you, David.
Share this.
Make next two gifts.
Thank you.
There is a blessing.
Thank you.
This morning's service would have to end with sadness
if that was the end of the story.
But praise God it isn't.
Three days later,
Jesus was busted out of that tomb.
God raised him from the dead.
His death brought our forgiveness
and his resurrection brings us life forever.
And that restored relationship with God.
And so we have so much because of that to look forward to.
I'm going to invite our worship team to come up
and lead us in song again.