WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:44.259 As we study through this particular narrative in chapter 11, 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:49.700 we made a note last week that it is free of any emotion or reason. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:52.840 It moves from action to action. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:01:04.520 And as Ralph Davis said, the writer of this book seems to silence all feelings in order that he may isolate David's action. 00:01:05.380 --> 00:01:14.719 As we go through this particular chapter, not only in his desire to stay at home or in his lust after Bathsheba or in his sin of adultery, 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:20.260 but then as we progress into this narrative today and we see the deceit that he has with Uriah, 00:01:20.379 --> 00:01:26.719 the drunkenness with Uriah, what eventually leads not only to the murder of this woman's husband, 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:31.819 but the murder of several other soldiers in the process of it, all just to cover his sin, 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:34.620 we see that there is no reasonings given. 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:37.060 There is no feelings or emotions listed. 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:38.659 It goes from action to action. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:47.439 And the purpose in that is to remind us that our reasons and our feelings in relation to our sin are irrelevant. 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:49.859 Sin is sin. 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:55.439 What God says is sin is sin no matter how we may feel about it, 00:01:55.479 --> 00:02:01.719 no matter what reason we may come up with to try to justify what we have decided to do with our lives. 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:08.379 And so the writer doesn't give us the feelings of David or Bathsheba or Uriah except for one verse in verse 11. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:12.159 It doesn't give us the feelings or reasonings of Joab or anyone else. 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:15.199 He just reveals the sin. 00:02:16.079 --> 00:02:19.020 Last week we looked at where sin begins. 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:25.400 And we noted that sin is conceived at the convergence of desire and opportunity. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.740 Desire is the lust of our heart. 00:02:28.740 --> 00:02:30.260 It is what we set our minds on. 00:02:30.320 --> 00:02:32.360 It is therefore a battle of the mind. 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:41.140 The things that we set our minds on, the Bible says, are to be the things that are true and pure and righteous and holy in Philippians 4.8. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:47.400 But then what David had done in this instance is he had set his mind on things that were impure. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:51.960 Well, sin takes place at the moment that our desires meet opportunity. 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:59.439 And the opportunity for David in this passage came when he stayed at home from the war instead of being where he should have been. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:09.260 And in the process of that, made his way to the roof, saw Bathsheba, and had an opportunity to act while her husband was away at war. 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:14.460 So it's a battle of the mind, but then it's also a battle of the will. 00:03:15.700 --> 00:03:18.939 We sin by choice, not by force. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:21.680 No one makes us do wrong. 00:03:22.579 --> 00:03:27.039 Whenever we fall into sinful behavior, it's because we have chosen to do so. 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:30.460 But fortunately, God has given us a way of escape. 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:37.879 In fact, the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10 that no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:43.120 But God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.900 But with the temptation, he will provide a way of escape. 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:50.020 And he does that for us in his grace. 00:03:50.520 --> 00:03:54.659 As believers, he provides ways of escape in the temptation that we face. 00:03:54.780 --> 00:04:01.939 And we noted how David had opportunity after opportunity in these first five verses to escape this sinful behavior. 00:04:02.140 --> 00:04:04.500 To walk away from his fleshly desire. 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:07.140 To not seize the opportunity to sin. 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:11.580 And we saw that first in verse 1 as he chose to stay home instead of go to war. 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:13.660 We see that in verse 2. 00:04:14.480 --> 00:04:18.240 The steps that went up to the roof also led down from the roof. 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:26.580 At the moment that he saw Bathsheba, a pure and righteous man would have shielded his eyes, walked away, and left in purity. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:27.920 But David did not do that. 00:04:28.660 --> 00:04:29.960 He gawked at the woman. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:32.020 He fantasized about her. 00:04:32.460 --> 00:04:34.220 And eventually he took her. 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:37.520 And then in verse 3, we see God gives a voice. 00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:43.440 Someone in the palace, as David says, go get me this woman, go get Bathsheba. 00:04:43.540 --> 00:04:49.840 Someone in the palace says, is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah? 00:04:51.700 --> 00:04:55.680 Eliam and Uriah were both mighty men of David. 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.520 They fought with him shoulder to shoulder. 00:04:58.300 --> 00:05:01.440 They were some of his closest friends in this life. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:09.379 In the times that he ran from Saul, in the times before he was king, when he was counting on those who were closest to him to protect him, 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:13.399 Eliam and Uriah were two men that were side by side with him. 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:16.899 And these were the men that God reminded him in that moment. 00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:20.779 It is these men that you will betray if you follow through on this. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:24.000 This lady, this woman does not belong to you, David. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.860 But he took her and he laid with her. 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:35.139 And we left off in verse 5 after he realized and was told that she was with child. 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:39.120 And then David is faced with yet another choice. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:44.680 What's he going to do now that the secret is bound to get out? 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:47.199 And that's where the passage picks up. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:55.959 Adultery is a sin that was punishable by death according to the law in Judah and in Israel. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:58.819 In fact, Leviticus chapter 20 and verse 10 says, 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:07.000 If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be surely put to death. 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:12.120 There were severe consequences for the sin that David had just committed. 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:23.480 He also had a very healthy reputation among the people that would have surely been wrecked had this news of his sin with Bathsheba been leaked to the press in Jerusalem. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:27.000 What he was faced with here was a crucial decision. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.060 He could do one of two things. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:33.720 He could confess his sin and repent and seek for mercy. 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:42.940 Or as the king, he could protect his reputation and devise a plan that would make all of this go away. 00:06:43.820 --> 00:06:48.240 And verses 6 through 13 show us the decision that he actually makes. 00:06:49.080 --> 00:06:59.480 The solution that he contrived centered on getting Uriah home from the battlefield in order that he might have physical relations with his wife Bathsheba. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.700 So David immediately sends for Uriah to come off the battlefield. 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:05.100 Look with me at verse number 6. 00:07:05.400 --> 00:07:07.900 And David sent to Joab, that is the general saying, 00:07:08.280 --> 00:07:10.000 Send me Uriah the Hittite. 00:07:10.400 --> 00:07:13.420 And Joab sent Uriah to David. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.840 Now David was no lightweight when it came to deception. 00:07:17.580 --> 00:07:20.860 If you go back to the book of 1 Samuel, specifically chapter 21, 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.980 you'll see that before David was ever king, he was on the run from King Saul. 00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:30.259 And he decided at one point to go and find shelter in the country of the Philistines. 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:32.819 And he immediately regretted that decision. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:33.900 They were the enemies of Israel. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:34.980 They were the enemy of David. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:38.420 And he found himself before the king of the Philistines. 00:07:38.740 --> 00:07:41.740 And if you remember the story of 1 Samuel chapter 21, 00:07:41.960 --> 00:07:46.240 David pretended as if he was a crazy man, as if he had completely lost his mind. 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:49.840 He let the drool and the spit run down his beard, the Bible says. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:53.979 And then he goes through to the point that the king of the Philistines just wants him out of his sight. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.339 And he says, Do I not have enough crazy people around me? 00:07:57.359 --> 00:07:58.759 And David was able to escape. 00:07:59.019 --> 00:08:01.459 He was no lightweight when it came to deception. 00:08:01.679 --> 00:08:04.779 And so when we get to verse 7, Uriah shows up. 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:05.859 And what's David going to do? 00:08:06.599 --> 00:08:08.959 Is he going to confess to Uriah what he had just done? 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:10.519 That would have been the noble thing to do. 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:11.979 That would have been the righteous thing to do. 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:13.559 But he doesn't do that at all. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:16.459 He pretends as if he's actually concerned about the war. 00:08:16.539 --> 00:08:17.299 Look at verse 7. 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:24.720 And when Uriah was coming to him, David demanded of him how Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:32.080 He put on a good show for Uriah so that he wouldn't be curious as to why he was pulled off the battlefield. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:36.320 But the whole point was to get Uriah home. 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:42.680 So he encouraged him to go to his house and enjoy his wife before returning to the battle. 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:49.139 And he even had a large gift as if he wanted to give them a nice romantic evening together. 00:08:49.319 --> 00:08:50.139 Look at verse 8. 00:08:50.979 --> 00:08:54.399 David said to Uriah, go down into thy house and wash thy feet. 00:08:54.439 --> 00:08:57.479 Now here's another weird phrase that the Bible uses. 00:08:57.659 --> 00:09:03.599 This was a Near Eastern custom that prior to going to bed, one of the last things someone would do is wash their feet. 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:06.939 It was a part of their ritual for getting ready for bed, ready for the evening. 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:12.440 This was a euphemism for David telling Uriah, go to your house and enjoy your wife. 00:09:13.260 --> 00:09:14.400 You're home from the battlefield. 00:09:15.180 --> 00:09:16.260 Go enjoy your wife. 00:09:17.140 --> 00:09:22.060 And in fact, as you go to your house, I'm going to make sure that you can enjoy her properly. 00:09:22.200 --> 00:09:26.440 So he sends a mess of meat, it says in the King James, but it's really just a gift. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:31.700 He sends a gift behind Uriah with the servants as if to provide this romantic evening for them. 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:36.200 He's surely going to take David up on this offer. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:44.940 And as far as David could tell, he was in full control and he was on his way to moving forward with his life, no worse for the wear. 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:52.420 He had created a cover-up to hide his sin and he was hoping just to move on. 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:55.280 But the cover-up was frustrated. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:03.199 And we see the frustration because David didn't count on one element that would have ruined his plan. 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:06.019 And that was the integrity of Uriah. 00:10:06.959 --> 00:10:08.639 Look with me at verse 9. 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:16.000 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.600 David counted on every provision possible. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:22.519 He prepared the great meal that he could send. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:24.659 He gets Uriah by himself. 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:27.419 He pretends as if he only cares about the war. 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:33.699 And now, as your friend, Uriah, I just want you to go home and spend some time with Bathsheba and Joyer. 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:35.539 And here's a gift to take along with you. 00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:38.980 And he thought that he had everything in line to cover up this sin in his life. 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:43.000 But the thing that he didn't count on was the righteousness of Uriah. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:48.480 And so instead of going home to enjoy his wife, Uriah bumped up with the palace servants. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:58.759 And he goes to the gate of the king's palace and he literally sleeps with the slaves because he refuses to go home when all of his brothers were at war. 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.200 And David can't believe it. 00:11:00.360 --> 00:11:01.060 Look at verse 10. 00:11:01.059 --> 00:11:16.019 Verse 11 is so awesome here. 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:21.559 Because the statement that Uriah makes back to King David is piercing. 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:31.879 It's a call back to verse 1, clearly indicating that Uriah was offended that David wasn't with everybody else. 00:11:31.939 --> 00:11:32.759 Here's what he says. 00:11:32.759 --> 00:12:01.179 What a dagger to the heart of King David in that moment. 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:08.339 He's divided this whole plan to get Uriah back just so he could cover up the fact that he slept with his wife. 00:12:09.339 --> 00:12:13.739 And now Uriah comes back and he's sure Uriah's going to go and enjoy this nice evening. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:19.259 And Uriah says, no, as long as everybody's at war, I'm not going to enjoy the things that they can't enjoy. 00:12:19.500 --> 00:12:22.620 I'll sleep happily right here with the servants until you let me go back. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.899 The whole plan is frustrated. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.439 It's stopped. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:29.719 He can't move forward with what he wants to do. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:40.000 As it turns out, the man after God's own heart in 2 Samuel 11 was Uriah the Hittite, not David the shepherd of Israel. 00:12:42.019 --> 00:12:43.879 We often reference David as that, right? 00:12:43.920 --> 00:12:49.759 He's the man after God's own heart, the great shepherd of Israel, the one who calls us to look forward to the Messiah. 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:51.080 That's who David is. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.980 But in this passage, he is not that at all. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:13:00.360 The person more resembling the integrity and the righteousness of God is a man that wasn't even an Israelite. 00:13:00.420 --> 00:13:11.019 He was a Hittite who had converted to Judaism at some point along the way, who had fought for Israel when he didn't even belong to Israel to begin with. 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:16.220 And he's the one that was acting more after God's own heart in this passage than King David. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:21.180 Well, David takes one more opportunity to make this happen. 00:13:22.160 --> 00:13:27.639 God has given another opportunity for him to confess, another opportunity for him to come clean. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:32.000 But instead of doing that, he tells Uriah in verse 12, 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:36.580 Terry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:39.340 So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day in the morrow. 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:45.060 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him, and he made him drunk. 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:49.899 And at even, he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his Lord. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:53.720 But he went not down to his house. 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:56.180 David takes one more stab at it. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.220 He says, Uriah wouldn't go and spend the night with Bathsheba, so I'll get him drunk. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.519 I'll take away all of his cognitive abilities. 00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:11.340 I'll take away every reasoning power that he has, and surely at this point he'll go down and all of this will be over. 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:16.399 But even drunk, Uriah was a better man than David was, sober. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.740 And he still wouldn't go down to the house. 00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:27.120 Unrepentant sin can do nothing but grow. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.199 It can do nothing but grow. 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:43.400 Under the surface of our deception, hidden sin takes root, and it expands in ways that even the sinner doesn't always realize himself. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:53.900 It's like a cancer spreading to every part of our being, and the longer we try to ignore it, the more deadly this hidden, unrepentant sin becomes. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.100 Follow the progression here in this story. 00:14:57.300 --> 00:14:58.900 We're not even at the worst part of it yet. 00:14:58.899 --> 00:15:08.319 It starts with a little bit of laziness, and that laziness made an opportunity for lust, and that lust became covetousness as he coveted another man's wife. 00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:13.279 And that covetousness, that desire met with opportunity, becomes the sin of adultery. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:16.059 And to cover up the sin of adultery becomes a liar. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:23.139 And in the process of lying, he makes a man drunk and probably even gets a little bit wasted himself in that whole process. 00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:25.460 We see what started as something innocent. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:28.340 I just want a little extra time of vacation from war. 00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:32.500 Ended up following in this path of sin as it grew and it grew. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:36.700 And the more he tried to hide it, the worse the sin became. 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:40.259 We're not unfamiliar with this scenario. 00:15:41.400 --> 00:15:46.139 We face the same crucial decision every time we fall into sin. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:56.100 As bad as the sin itself is, there is nothing more pathetic and damaging than our attempts to hide it. 00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:59.379 And that's exactly what David was doing. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:04.460 The scriptures often acknowledge this tendency. 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:09.060 And they reveal to us both the consequences and the way out. 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:17.280 The only option in dealing with sin biblically is to confess and forsake it. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.379 Confess and forsake it. 00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:22.759 Think of Proverbs 28, 13. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:27.480 Whoever conceals a transgression will not prosper. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:33.379 But he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:37.060 And then he goes further in verse 14 and Solomon writes, 00:16:37.539 --> 00:16:40.500 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:46.899 But whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:51.980 What is the result of hiding sin and trying to cover sin in our lives? 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:55.680 We continue to fall into more sin, more calamity. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.000 What David was doing in 2 Samuel 11 was he was hardening his heart. 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:05.940 And the more he hardened his heart, the more calamity, the more evil, the more sin that he began to fall into. 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:10.639 And so it began to grow just like a cancer spreads and destroys the body. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.720 But remember what the New Testament tells us in 1 John 1. 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:22.119 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. 00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.159 And then what does he do? 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:26.740 He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.560 Proverbs 28, 14. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:34.480 He who hardens his heart will continue to fall into calamity, will continue to fall into sin. 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.900 1 John 1, 9. 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:42.460 He who confesses his sin, God will not only forgive it, but he will prevent you from falling into more sin. 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.400 He will put a stop to it. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:47.160 He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.800 Unrighteousness. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:50.940 The only option is to confess and forsake. 00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:53.700 To try to hide it is futile. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.080 It's damaging. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:01.120 Is there a sin in your life that you've been working real hard to hide? 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.199 Don't hide it. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:05.559 Don't hide it any longer. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:08.639 It's only going to hurt you more. 00:18:10.239 --> 00:18:12.439 It will only lead to more sin. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:18.479 But if you confess it and forsake it, God will forgive you. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:19.579 That's his promise. 00:18:20.719 --> 00:18:23.839 Confess and forsake and he will forgive. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:29.480 Because who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy. 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:33.220 So we see David's frustrated plan. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.639 Now we see his murderous plan. 00:18:37.399 --> 00:18:38.799 Verses 14 to 24. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.879 Now think about this. 00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:47.519 Just a few days before this, David was a beloved king that was enjoying an extended vacation from war. 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:53.019 But now he's a monster that's spiraling totally out of control. 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:56.119 And by the way, remember, David's a believer. 00:18:58.139 --> 00:19:00.579 In New Testament terminology, he's a Christian. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.639 He's at church today. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.200 Worshiping. 00:19:04.599 --> 00:19:05.539 Sitting in your seat. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:11.400 There's a popular saying that I think is fitting here. 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:15.039 It's been attributed to a lot of people over time. 00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:18.359 I don't know who it actually belongs to, but you'll probably recognize the saying. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:21.619 Sin will take you farther than you want to go. 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:25.159 It will keep you longer than you want to stay. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.179 And it will cost you more than you want to pay. 00:19:30.439 --> 00:19:34.719 Just a few days before this, David's the beloved king of Israel. 00:19:35.439 --> 00:19:39.739 Now, it's everything he can do to hide this sin. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:47.059 And now he's spiraling out of control so that it ends in murder. 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:52.859 When he first saw Bathsheba, he never expected to fall this far. 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:55.259 He just wanted a night of pleasure. 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.940 He just thought, it's one night. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.480 It's one moment. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.599 What harm could come? 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.059 And now look at him. 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:11.319 No one looks with lust on a woman and thinks, I'm probably going to end up murdering somebody for this. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:18.879 No one-night stand ever expects to destroy an entire kingdom or even a family for that matter. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:29.520 Just like Adam and Eve never expected the bite of the forbidden fruit to necessitate the execution of God's only begotten son. 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:33.420 But that's the danger in sin. 00:20:34.040 --> 00:20:35.780 It's never what you think it is. 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:40.240 And you never have the power over it that you think you have. 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.639 Well, let's look at what happened with David. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.899 First, we see a sinister plot in verses 14 to 17. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.680 He's once again given an opportunity to repent. 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:54.759 But he was intent on carrying out his desired cover-up. 00:20:56.879 --> 00:21:01.859 Ultimately, his pride was more important to him than the glory of God. 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:07.159 So what he resulted to was to eliminate Uriah altogether. 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:08.139 Look at verse 14. 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:16.699 And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.859 And he wrote in the letter saying, 00:21:19.259 --> 00:21:28.359 Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the fiercest battle, and then return you from him, that he may be smitten and die. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:32.459 He wrote out exactly how he wanted Uriah to be killed. 00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:37.759 And then he sent Uriah away as the unknowing messenger of his own execution. 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:40.179 Now think about this. 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:42.179 Uriah had so much integrity. 00:21:42.659 --> 00:21:45.219 David knew he would never open up that letter. 00:21:46.219 --> 00:21:51.740 And he puts in his own hand the sentence of execution to take to Joab. 00:21:52.699 --> 00:21:53.899 Look at verse 16. 00:21:53.900 --> 00:22:00.920 And it came to pass when Joab observed the city that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:03.640 That is, valiant men from Ammon, the Ammonites. 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:06.800 And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab. 00:22:07.080 --> 00:22:10.519 And there fell some of the people of the servants of David. 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:14.019 And Uriah the Hittite died also. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:18.340 We often consider this as merely the murder of Uriah, but he wasn't the only one killed. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:23.279 David's plot ended up being a case of multiple homicides. 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:26.799 It wasn't just Uriah. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.939 So we see a sinister plot. 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.039 Uriah is now dead. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:36.500 And then we see in 18 to 24 how that hidden sin makes us an utter contradiction. 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:40.480 Unrepentant sin does exactly that. 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:44.599 We end up contradicting everything that we've ever stood for. 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.480 It changes who we are. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.779 Now I want you to look at verse 18. 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:52.940 Joab sent a message back to David. 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:56.380 And here's what he expected David to respond with. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.059 Verse 19. 00:22:57.700 --> 00:22:59.180 He charged the messenger saying, 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:02.500 When you have made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:06.180 and if so be that King David's wrath arise, 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.660 and he say unto thee, 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:11.779 Wherefore approach you so nigh unto the city when you did fight? 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:14.660 Know ye not that they would shoot from the wall? 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:19.040 And then he recalls back to an historical figure in the Old Testament in the book of Judges. 00:23:19.320 --> 00:23:21.480 Who spoke Abimelech, the son of Gideon? 00:23:21.800 --> 00:23:25.800 Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone from off the wall that he died? 00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:28.060 Why went you nigh unto the wall? 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.540 And Joab says, 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:31.200 Then say to David, 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:34.380 Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead. 00:23:35.120 --> 00:23:35.640 Also. 00:23:35.640 --> 00:23:42.880 Joab fully anticipated David to be angry at this ridiculous strategy of war. 00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:48.420 And so upon the message returning, he expected fully David to be angry. 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:50.380 So the catch at the end is, 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:53.259 Make sure to tell him that Uriah is dead. 00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:55.480 So when we talk about all these other men that have died, 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.840 make sure he knows it's his fault. 00:23:58.100 --> 00:23:59.820 We were doing what you said to do. 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.720 Made him an utter contradiction. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:09.380 David had always been known for avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. 00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:11.539 He was always known for that. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:16.880 But now, he's being careless with not just one life, but many lives. 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:20.279 This hidden sin makes him an utter contradiction. 00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:25.680 The same man that once put Mephibosheth, his enemy's grandson, at his own table, 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.860 had now put one of his mighty men in the grave. 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:32.420 His sin had made him uncharacteristically ruthless. 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:35.440 And it will do the same to us as well. 00:24:36.600 --> 00:24:37.820 And so we see his murderous plan. 00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:40.519 Finally, we see his calloused heart. 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.900 Verses 25 to 27. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.740 His calloused heart. 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:48.279 It's not hard to see the progression of David's sin. 00:24:50.060 --> 00:24:53.460 His unrepentant transgression led to a desperate cover-up 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:59.840 that resulted in a senseless murder that left the man after God's own heart with a heart of stone. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:04.779 Each step of the way, David's heart gets harder and harder and harder. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:08.019 And the end result was self-deception. 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:11.500 And then it was also self-obsession. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:14.039 Look at the self-deception in verse 25. 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:18.759 David said unto the messenger, after he had came and delivered this message, 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.879 here's what you need to say to Joab. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:29.299 Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another. 00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:33.700 The literal translation of that phrase, let not this thing displease thee, 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:37.099 the literal translation is, don't let this be evil in your eyes. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.559 And otherwise, Joab, don't worry about it. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:42.899 Don't let this look evil in your eyes. 00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:43.799 It's war. 00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:45.059 People die at war. 00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:47.119 Uriah was bound to die eventually. 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:49.339 We just sped up the process a little bit. 00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:51.480 That's essentially what he sends back to Joab. 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:55.339 He says, tell him, don't let this look evil in your eyes. 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:58.359 It's not that big of a deal. 00:25:58.899 --> 00:25:59.960 He self-deceived. 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:06.779 This is the same ridiculous form of self-justification that we often subscribe to 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.700 when trying to live with our own sin. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:13.279 Come up with all the reasons why it's not that big of a deal. 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:20.559 And a telling sign of unrepentant sin is when you have to continually convince yourself and others 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:22.159 that it's just not that big of a deal. 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.099 You ever find yourself in that position? 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:31.099 Family or friends or fellow Christians are trying to encourage you 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.799 or they're trying to prod you along in something, 00:26:32.919 --> 00:26:36.279 and what you keep coming back to is it's just not that big of a deal. 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:40.519 Well, it's a pretty good sign that there's probably some unrepentant sin, 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:42.519 and it's beginning to grow under the surface. 00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:45.160 And if you're not careful, it's going to spiral out of control. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:48.460 Best to confess and forsake. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.920 David had become self-deceived. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:52.399 He convinced himself that this wasn't a big deal. 00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:54.700 Uriah was bound to die anyways. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.279 But then he was self-obsessed. 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:58.220 Look at verse 26. 00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:22.839 Another telling sign of a hardened heart is total self-obsession. 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:27.140 David didn't care about anybody but himself. 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:31.460 This entire narrative reeks of narcissism. 00:27:33.300 --> 00:27:38.060 And indeed, sin always has self-fulfillment as its ultimate goal. 00:27:39.800 --> 00:27:43.500 News finally comes to Bathsheba that Uriah is dead. 00:27:44.300 --> 00:27:46.560 We don't know if she was involved in the plot. 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:48.540 We have no idea if she expected this at all. 00:27:49.020 --> 00:27:52.120 All we know is that she went through the customary time of mourning. 00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.780 We don't know if it was genuine. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:56.380 Probably part of it had to be. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:59.300 All we know is that she mourned. 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:03.860 Typical mourning process in that day would have been seven days. 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:08.500 For seven days, she mourns and grieves publicly over the loss of her husband. 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:13.520 Do you notice what the Bible says, who the Bible says doesn't mourn at all? 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:16.420 David's absent from grief. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:18.639 He's absent from mourning. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:20.700 This is one of his closest friends. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:22.039 This is not a stranger. 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:35.660 Yet from what we can tell in this passage, this sin has hardened his heart so firmly that he doesn't even care that he's just murdered one of his closest friends. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.660 He doesn't grieve. 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:42.480 Instead, he lets Bathsheba go through her seven days. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:45.300 And at the end of the seven days, what does he do? 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:47.000 He marries her. 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:49.320 He adds her to his harem. 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:55.859 And ultimately says, the pregnancy came after Uriah's death. 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.720 It's a calloused heart. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.939 He cared about nobody but himself. 00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:05.200 Self-fulfillment was at the forefront of his mind. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:09.120 What a self-obsessed, cold-hearted individual. 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:14.900 In truth, David is representative of all of us. 00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:23.059 In one way or another, we likely have gone through this same progression of hidden sin, even if it's to a lesser degree. 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:33.160 So we don't come to this narrative casting stones, but rather heeding the warning that if a man like David can fall as far as he did, surely we can too. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:47.319 Any thinking person at this point, and we'll close with this, eventually we'll come to a place in this passage where they ask the question, where is God in all of this? 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:51.539 Why did he allow it to go as far as it went? 00:29:52.340 --> 00:30:00.600 Why did he allow David to carry this out to the point that just to cover up this adultery, he not only murdered Uriah but a bunch of other men as well? 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:04.259 And the text doesn't resolve that question for us. 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:11.600 Like other questions with God's timing and purposes, we must leave the answer to the perfect wisdom of God. 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:17.700 Remember what Paul wrote to the Romans, who has known the mind of the Lord, who has been his counselor? 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:29.220 While God doesn't give us every possible answer for our understanding, he does give us every truth necessary for our understanding. 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:34.960 And it's not important for us to know why God waited the way that he waited. 00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:42.380 But there is something vitally important in this passage that we must give our attention to as we close. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:45.279 It's the most important sentence of the entire chapter. 00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:48.839 In fact, the entire narrative in both chapters, most important sentence. 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:51.259 It's the last sentence in verse 27. 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:56.500 But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:59.900 The thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:04.779 Same word that David used in his message back to Uriah. 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.319 Remember what he said? 00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:07.480 Or back to Joab. 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:08.180 Remember what he said? 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:11.119 Joab, don't let this thing look evil in your eyes. 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:16.160 And two verses later, here's God saying, the thing that David did was evil in my eyes. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:21.220 And we often come to our sin, we come to our lives, and we think it's not that big of a deal. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.200 Don't let this look evil in your eyes. 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.420 It's not evil in my eyes. 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:27.360 But the whole time, God is looking, and he's seeing the way we're behaving. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.480 He's seeing the way that we're living. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:30.240 And it's evil in his eyes. 00:31:30.580 --> 00:31:34.380 The most important verse in the whole passage is this one. 00:31:34.380 --> 00:31:37.920 Because it finally reveals to us what God's mind was in all of this. 00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:39.900 What his heart was in all of this. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:42.100 It displeased the Lord. 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:44.860 It was evil in his eyes. 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:51.220 Davis said, the force of this bottom line comes from the fact that it is literally the bottom line. 00:31:51.540 --> 00:31:52.779 The last line of the chapter. 00:31:53.920 --> 00:32:02.120 The writer relates this whole sordid tale of lust and sex and deceit and murder without pausing to make marginal moral notations along the way. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:07.279 He details every step of the story as if God were nowhere involved. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:14.279 This silence about God, however, only serves to accentuate the lone statement. 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:19.899 God may be silent, but he is not sightless. 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:23.579 He may be silent, but he is not sightless. 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:30.220 Many times we go through our lives as Christians, and we think that we're being successful in our cover-ups, 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:33.019 and we think that it's not that big a deal for us to live the way we are. 00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:35.399 After all, my life is still pretty pleasant. 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:40.080 God may be silent right now in your life, but he is not sightless. 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.860 He sees it all. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:46.420 He knows it all, and he will judge it all. 00:32:48.100 --> 00:32:54.800 Alistair Begg said, in order to sin like David, you have to anesthetize the fear of God in your heart. 00:32:55.780 --> 00:32:58.380 You have to anesthetize the fear of God in your heart. 00:32:58.380 --> 00:33:00.460 That's the first thing that goes. 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:04.020 You start to believe that if you can pull the wool over everyone else's eyes, 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:10.340 then God's not going to see it either, even though you know in your heart that he always sees everything. 00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:19.080 And make no mistake, while it may seem like God is absent and you are successful, he is there. 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:24.039 He sees what no one else sees, and he knows what only you know. 00:33:25.199 --> 00:33:26.639 And the scriptures attest to this. 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.720 Proverbs 15, 3. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:33.779 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:36.299 Jeremiah 23. 00:33:36.679 --> 00:33:40.079 Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:44.980 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him, declares the Lord? 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:48.159 Do I not fill heaven and earth, declares the Lord? 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:52.480 Psalm 139, ironically written by King David. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:54.819 O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:57.799 You know when I sit down and when I rise up. 00:33:58.139 --> 00:34:00.079 You understand my thought from afar. 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:05.779 You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:09.000 Even before there is a word on my tongue, David writes, 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.799 behold, O Lord, you know it all. 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:13.380 You've enclosed me behind and before. 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:15.460 You laid your hand upon me. 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:18.019 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.079 It's too high. 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.960 I can't attain it. 00:34:20.679 --> 00:34:22.340 Where can I go from your spirit? 00:34:22.539 --> 00:34:24.539 Or where can I flee from your presence? 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:26.820 If I ascend to heaven, you are there. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:30.019 If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.039 He sees it all. 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.039 He knows it all. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.940 You can't escape it. 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:39.820 How could a man, after God's own heart, do such a thing we might ask? 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:46.039 We ask that about David, but what we need to be doing is asking it of ourselves. 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:55.960 How could a people that claim to follow the Lord Jesus Christ continue in the very sin that they say he came to die for? 00:34:58.119 --> 00:35:03.239 How can we preach the love of Christ and yet treat others with such hatefulness and slander? 00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:11.099 How can we say that our minds are being renewed in conformity to Christ and then fill it continually with the filth of the world? 00:35:11.799 --> 00:35:19.759 It's important to acknowledge God's displeasure with David's sin, but what we really need to be doing is acknowledging God's displeasure with our own sin. 00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:27.500 In 1 John 2, don't love the world, nor the things in the world. 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:30.980 If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 00:35:31.160 --> 00:35:38.660 For all that is of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life is not from God, but it is from the world. 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:46.760 And the world is passing away and all of its lust, but the will, the one who does the will of God lives forever. 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:49.580 God must judge sin. 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.420 God must judge sin. 00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:51.340 God must judge sin. 00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.900 His holy character demands it. 00:35:53.720 --> 00:35:57.460 But that's the amazing thing about God's grace through Christ. 00:35:59.020 --> 00:36:05.040 Jesus has taken the full punishment on behalf of anyone that will follow him. 00:36:05.600 --> 00:36:07.660 Do you realize that's the significance of the cross? 00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:15.420 He bore the wrath of God that we are destined for. 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:26.440 And he did that in order that we might be made free from this sin, in order that we might be made forgiven, in order that we may obtain salvation. 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:34.139 The Father has put his judgment on the Son, in order that believers may be forgiven and restored. 00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.880 2 Corinthians 5.21. 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:47.619 For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God. 00:36:47.619 --> 00:36:51.119 Isaiah 53.5. 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:54.259 He was pierced for our transgressions. 00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:56.420 He was crushed for our iniquities. 00:36:56.779 --> 00:36:59.420 Upon him was the chastisement that brought peace. 00:36:59.819 --> 00:37:02.319 And with his wounds, we are healed. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:04.820 1 John chapter 4. 00:37:05.780 --> 00:37:06.800 In this is love. 00:37:07.600 --> 00:37:10.100 Not that we have loved God, but that he loved us. 00:37:10.660 --> 00:37:14.140 And sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins. 00:37:14.220 --> 00:37:15.559 What does propitiation mean? 00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:17.420 It means payment in full. 00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:20.360 He didn't just pay for one of your sins. 00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:24.660 He paid for all of your sins if you will just believe and follow him. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:29.820 And maybe you're an unbeliever here today, and you say, what am I supposed to do with that? 00:37:29.820 --> 00:37:32.620 What does that actually mean for me? 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:36.160 What am I supposed to do? 00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:39.680 There's nothing you can do. 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:46.980 There's no salvation that comes by merit, by work. 00:37:48.019 --> 00:37:53.460 The Bible says repent, believe, and follow Christ. 00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:55.440 That's salvation. 00:37:55.580 --> 00:37:56.200 That's the gospel. 00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:59.320 That's the freeing part of the gospel. 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:02.140 You say, what am I supposed to do with all this information about Christ? 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:03.000 Believe it. 00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:05.340 Believe it and follow him. 00:38:06.080 --> 00:38:07.559 Leave off the sin of your life. 00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:10.120 Leave off the things that you have been pursuing in your life. 00:38:10.220 --> 00:38:12.380 Stop trying to work your way to God's favor. 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:14.320 And just believe. 00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.660 Believe him. 00:38:16.140 --> 00:38:17.720 Follow him. 00:38:19.780 --> 00:38:23.700 All those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection and follow him as Lord 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:27.079 will be saved and will receive eternal life. 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:29.460 Acts 16.31. 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:32.960 Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. 00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.259 John 3. 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:39.239 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, 00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:42.839 but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:46.660 And whoever believes in him, Jesus said, is not condemned, 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:49.280 but whoever does not believe is condemned already, 00:38:49.680 --> 00:38:52.760 because he has not yet believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:38:53.940 --> 00:38:54.960 1 John 2. 00:38:55.620 --> 00:38:58.100 I'm writing these things to you that you may not sin. 00:38:58.099 --> 00:39:03.659 But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, 00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:05.420 Jesus Christ the righteous. 00:39:06.799 --> 00:39:10.920 He is the propitiation, the payment in full for our sins, 00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:14.339 not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. 00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:16.860 You say, what am I supposed to do with this? 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:18.199 Believe it. 00:39:18.900 --> 00:39:19.679 Trust him. 00:39:20.319 --> 00:39:21.099 Follow him. 00:39:21.279 --> 00:39:22.679 And you will be saved. 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:23.900 You will be forgiven. 00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:27.839 And then maybe you're a believer here today like David. 00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:31.900 You say, if my sin has been forgiven by Jesus, 00:39:32.139 --> 00:39:35.579 doesn't that mean that I can sin without consequence? 00:39:35.779 --> 00:39:39.639 Do I really have to care that much about the sin of my life? 00:39:40.380 --> 00:39:41.319 Of course you do. 00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:46.779 That's the kind of self-deception that reveals an individual 00:39:46.779 --> 00:39:48.980 is already deep in hidden sin. 00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:54.139 The Bible teaches that God works in believers 00:39:54.139 --> 00:39:56.279 to conform them to the image of Christ. 00:39:56.280 --> 00:39:59.380 And though we're not yet perfected, 00:39:59.980 --> 00:40:03.400 the spirit of a true believer would never use the grace of God 00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:04.460 as a license to sin. 00:40:05.120 --> 00:40:06.660 They understand that holiness matters. 00:40:08.740 --> 00:40:10.740 Romans 6 explains this to us. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:12.360 Paul says, 00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:13.400 What shall we say then? 00:40:14.200 --> 00:40:16.680 Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:40:17.380 --> 00:40:18.440 By no means. 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:22.579 How can we who died to sin still live in it? 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:27.120 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus 00:40:27.120 --> 00:40:28.579 were baptized into his death? 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:32.780 We were buried, therefore, with him in baptism into death. 00:40:33.140 --> 00:40:35.900 In order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:37.260 by the glory of the Father, 00:40:37.260 --> 00:40:39.520 we too might walk in newness of life. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:44.140 So do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, 00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:46.500 but present yourselves to God 00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:50.060 as those who have been brought from death to life 00:40:50.060 --> 00:40:53.060 and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:56.880 We are salt and light in this world. 00:40:57.860 --> 00:41:00.000 And what good is salt if it's lost its savor? 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:03.759 And what good is light if it's hidden under a bushel, Jesus said? 00:41:04.619 --> 00:41:07.920 If God has saved you, live as if he has. 00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:13.779 Why should we, who have put sin to death through Christ, 00:41:14.199 --> 00:41:15.380 continue to live therein? 00:41:16.219 --> 00:41:17.619 It's not pleasing to the Lord. 00:41:19.860 --> 00:41:22.519 Ephesians 1 tells us exactly why God has saved us. 00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:26.400 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:30.000 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:31.099 in the heavenly places, 00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:34.719 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. 00:41:34.799 --> 00:41:36.000 And here's why he did that. 00:41:36.539 --> 00:41:42.079 That we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:41:43.699 --> 00:41:46.099 And so when we understand the context of the whole Bible, 00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:50.299 we understand that the most important phrase in 2 Samuel 11 00:41:50.300 --> 00:41:54.960 is the thing that David did was evil in the sight of the Lord. 00:41:55.640 --> 00:41:57.240 Didn't matter how David viewed it. 00:41:58.320 --> 00:41:59.620 God would be his judge. 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:01.880 And as we'll find out next week, 00:42:02.300 --> 00:42:04.000 the judgment was severe. 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:08.360 Thank you for listening to this sermon made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:10.460 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:13.699 Please do not charge for it or alter it in any way 00:42:13.699 --> 00:42:16.739 without express written consent from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:20.420 Don't forget to visit us online at lakesidebible.church 00:42:20.420 --> 00:42:25.059 or find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:42:25.059 --> 00:42:27.820 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, 00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:30.179 we'd love for you to attend one of our worship services. 00:42:30.579 --> 00:42:32.559 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:42:32.779 --> 00:42:33.920 We'd love to meet you.