Sermon #10431                                       Miscellaneous Sermons

 

     Title:       A Fallen Saint And His Faithful God

     Text:       2 Samuel 11:26-27

     Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26-27 and Psalm 51

     Subject:  David’s Sin and God’s Grace

     Date:       Sunday Morning – September 27, 1992

     Tape #   

 

Introduction:

 

God’s servant David was a man of remarkable character. Grace had made him a man of integrity, principle, and courage in the cause of God’s honor. He was a humble man, a believing man, a faithful man, and a holy and righteousness man. He stood head and shoulders above his peers. The Lord God himself tells us that David was such a man as I have described. He was no better than any other man by nature. But grace made him a new creature. God himself declares, “I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22). David was a man chosen of God, redeemed by Christ, born again and called by the Holy Spirit. He was a righteous man, greatly and mightily used of God as no other man in his generation. He was the man through whom Christ came into this world. Our Savior, who is the Son of God, came into the world as the Son of man through David. Jesus Christ, the Son of man, is the Son of David. Truly, David was a remarkable, remarkable man.

 

     But how is David remembered? What do you think of when you hear David’s name? For most people, I suspect the first thought, which comes to mind when David’s name is mentioned, is adultery and murder. David took another man’s wife, committed adultery, and had the man whose wife he had taken killed. What a horrible blight upon the name of such a remarkable man! But it is written in the Scriptures for our learning and admonition. So, today, I want to talk to you very plainly about David’s sin. If you are taking notes, the title of my message is, A Fallen Saint and His Faithful God. Lets read 2 Samuel 11:26-27. Now, keep your Bibles open at 2 Samuel 12.

 

Proposition:

 

     This chapter is not written to sully the name of God’s servant David, but to teach us both to be aware of our own sinfulness and to adore the marvelous grace of our God.

 

     Once David had committed his horrible crimes, God left him alone for several months. The guilt of sin lay upon his heart for nine long months, unrepented of. I am sure that during those long months of darkness his soul was heavy, his heart smote him, and he lamented the evil he had done. I have no doubt that he went to bed many nights with the face of his faithful friend, Uriah, before his eyes. How many sleepless nights he must have spent, trying to silence the tormenting accusations of his conscience. God left David alone for nine months to seethe in his sin. During those nine months he found no comfort for his soul; he penned no psalms; his harp was out of tune; his soul was like a tree in winter, the sap of life was still there in the root, but he appeared to be dead. Indeed, David himself said, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer” (Psa. 32:3-4).

 

     Then after nine long months of barrenness, desolation and isolation from the Lord his God, after nine months without hearing from God or being heard of God, God intervened in mercy – “And the Lord sent Nathan unto David” (12:1).

 

     As we look together at David, A Fallen Saint And His Faithful God, I want us to learn these seven things. May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher.

 

I. This Book, The Bible, Is The Word Of God.

 

     If this Book were only a book of religious morals, compiled by men, it certainly would not record the most wicked deeds of its most eminent examples of grace and faith. One of the greatest evidences of inspiration is the fact that the Bible makes no attempt to conceal the sins of God’s most eminent servants. Rather, it plainly exposes them and makes no excuse for them.

 

·        Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; but one day, while he lay in a drunken stupor, one of his own sons defiled him.

·        Abraham was the friend of God; but he lied to Abimelech, subjected his wife to adultery, and took Hagar.

·        Moses was the meekest man who ever lived; but the once smote the Rock, the token of God’s presence, which typified Christ, in a fit of anger.

·        Aaron was God’s high priest; but he once led Israel in idolatry.

·        Peter was a chosen apostle of Christ; but he denied his Savior three times in one dark, dark night.

 

Why has the Holy Spirit so plainly recorded the sins of God’s saints upon the pages of Holy Scripture? Why is there no attempt made to cover, minimize, or in some way excuse their sins? I can give you three reasons.

 

     A. First, these things are written to teach us that God’s saints in this world are sinners still.

 

Illustration: Paul in Romans 7 – “I am the chief of sinners!”

              William Huntington, S.S.

 

“I am a poor sinner and nothing at all;

But Jesus Christ is my all in all!”

 

     B. Second, these things are written to teach us that salvation is by the grace of God alone (Eph. 2:8-9).

 

     We all stand before God as guilty sinners upon the footing of free grace alone!

 

·        Grace chose us!

·        Grace called us!

·        Grace keeps us!

·        And when we fall, grace restores us (Psa. 37:23-24; Prov. 24:16).

 

C. These things are written to teach us that the whole of our acceptance with God is the Person and work of Christ – “Accepted in the Beloved!”

 

·        Christ is our Atonement!

·        Christ is our Righteousness!

·        Christ is our Sanctification!

 

II. The second thing we must learn from David’ sin is this – You and I must never cease to be aware of our personal weaknesses arising from the depravity of our own hearts.

 

     How often have you thought to yourself, or said to others, “I do not understand how a true believer could do such a thing?” What you are really saying is, “I would never do that!”

 

     I know that doctrinally we all believe in total depravity; but by some proud, foolish imagination we all think we are the exception. We would never say so, but we all naturally think more highly of ourselves than we ought.

 

     A. The great cause of Peter’s fall was his pride (Lk. 22:31-33).

 

     He had to learn that he did not love Christ more than the rest of his brethren. There was no difference between him and James, John, and Thomas; and he had to learn it.

 

     B. The secret of steadfast commitment and consecration to Christ is a genuine awareness of personal depravity (Rom. 12:1-3).

     That person is in grave danger who imagines that he or she is above committing some sin that would bring reproach upon the gospel of the grace of God, the name of Christ, and the church of God.

 

Illustration: Peter walking on the water – As we walk across

              these troubled waters we must never cease to look

              to Christ! As soon as we take our eyes off him we

              begin to sink.

 

III. Thirdly, learn from David that – We are all naturally blind to our own faults, but quick to see the faults of others.

 

     When Nathan illustrated David’s sin by telling him the parable of the rich man who had many lambs, but stole the only lamb his poor neighbor had (vv. 1-4), David was enraged and quickly judged that man to be worthy of death, never imagining that he was the man! (See Matt. 7:1-5.)

 

·        Indian saying, “Don’t judge another man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins!”

·        This is my prayer – “God, teach me to be lenient, merciful and forbearing toward my brethren. If I have any severity, let it be directed against myself. Teach me to forgive, overlook, and excuse the weaknesses and failings of my brethren.”

 

IV. Fourthly, this sad event in David’s life teaches us that we are all need a faithful preacher (12:1).

 

     “And the Lord sent Nathan unto David!” What a blessing! Blessed is that man to whom God sends his Nathans! When God has grace to convey to his elect he sends a messenger to speak for him. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” God always sends a preacher to…

 

·        The lost one he will save.

·        The languishing one he will revive.

·        The fallen one he will restore.

 

For wise and holy reasons known only to himself, God allows his saints to fall into sin. Sometimes he leaves them to themselves for a long time; but he will not leave them forever! (Isa. 57:17-18).

 

     “He sends after us before we seek after him, else we would certainly be lost.” (M. Henry)

 

     Nathan was the prophet by whom God had promised many good things to David (2 Sam. 7:13-17); but now he must speak to David a word of stern reproof.

 

     A. Nathan was a faithful prophet.

 

     Having received the word at God’s mouth, he spoke it faithfully. He was David’s truest friend, for he spoke to David the Word of God. Joab was only a pretended friend.

 

     1. Nathan did not say, “I will not go to David, for he has sinned.” He counted him not as an enemy, but admonished him as a friend (2 Thess. 3:15).

     2. He did not say, “David is the king. I dare not reprove him and expose his sin!” He was faithful to God and faithful to David. He told him the truth. He was true to his soul.

 

     a. He reminded David of all the great things God had done for him and was willing to do for him (12:7-8).

     b. He plainly exposed David’s sin for what it was – Contempt for God’s authority (12:9).

     c. He frankly told David what the consequences of his sin would be (12:10-12).

 

     B. And David bowed to and received the Word of God (12:13).

 

     Here is a mark of grace, a mark of a true believer. When David was confronted with his sin, he confessed it and repented of it. He bowed to the Word of God.

 

     1. He was not angry with Nathan for delivering God’s Word.

 

·        “I’ll get another prophet!”

·        “I’ll just change churches!”

 

2. He was not angry with God for judging his sin.

3. He frankly confessed his sin. This is the essence of repentance (1 John 1:9; Psa. 51:1-17; 32:1-5).

 

V. The fifth lesson to be learned from David’s fall is the fact that our lives affect a lot of people and a lot of things.

 

     None of us lives unto himself. Everything we say and everything we do affects other people. Our companions, our children, our brethren, our neighbors, our friends, and our enemies are watching us. What we say and do does affect them!

 

     The scandalous lives of people who profess faith in Christ and the scandalous actions of people who possess faith in Christ is a matter of grave concern, because it gives men occasion to blaspheme the name of our God. The more prominent and influential a person is the more severe the consequences of his sin are (Rom. 2:23-24).

 

·        Pastors

·        Parents

·        Employees

 

Though God did not punish David for his sin personally (His sin was punished in Christ!), he did chasten him publicly. He had to vindicate his honor and show his displeasure with David’s sin. Notice the consequences of David’s sin.

 

     A. The name of the Lord was blasphemed (12:14).

     B. The child of David’s lust was killed (12:18).

     C. The sword would never depart from his house (12:10).

     D. David reaped the consequences of his sin in his children (12:11-12; 16:22).

 

·        Absalom learned to despise his father by his father’s deeds.

·        Ahithophel learned to betray his trusted friend by David’s deeds.

 

Beware, my friend, your sin will find you out. You cannot take fire to your bossom and not get burned. You cannot sin against God and get by. Your sin and mine has its consequences…

 

·        Upon the name of God.

·        Upon the family of God.

·        Upon all who are under our influence.

 

VI. The sixth lesson to be learned from this sad story is the fact that the Lord our God is merciful and gracious to forgive sin (12:13). (See Psalm 103:8-14).

 

     David was so overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of God in forgiving his sin that when he wrote about it he could not extol the grace of God enough (Psa. 32; 51).

 

     It is still true, “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). “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity?” (Mic. 7:18). Our God is a God “who delighteth in mercy!”

 

     What a picture we have here of God’s mercy in forgiving sin. This is what God does for sinners. He forgives them!

 

     A. God forgave David of his sin (12:13).

 

     1. It was an immediate forgiveness. As soon as confession was made pardon was declared. God never upbraids where sin is honestly confessed; but by the power of his omnipotent grace, through the merits of Christ’s shed blood, he casts the hell-born thing behind his back (John 1:29).

 

     2. It was a complete forgiveness (Psa. 32:5). The Lord God forgave David’s iniquity, his transgression, his sin, and the iniquity of his sin! David was not charged with sin. God would not impute sin to him, ever! (Rom. 4:8).

 

     NOTE: This is the strongest argument under heaven to promote holiness (1 John 2:1-2).

 

     3. It was forgiveness accompanied by a promise – “Thou shalt not die!” Wherever God grants pardon he promises life, eternal life (Acts 13:37-38; John 5:24).

 

     B. God forgave David freely, but an innocent victim must die in his place (12:14, 18).

 

     Grace is free, but it is not cheap. Forgiveness comes to us freely, but someone had to pay for our sin! Look at the illustration before us…

 

     God’s justice must be vindicated, and must appear to be vindicated. Therefore, seven days after it was born that baby, who was altogether innocent of David’s crime, died, as it were, in his stead, because of his sin. God killed it.

 

     Even so, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was altogether holy and innocent, died as our Substitute, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. There is not other way for God to be just and yet justify the ungodly. God killed his Son for us!

 

     C. David and the innocent one who died in his place, who died for his sin, will someday be reunited (12:23).

 

     David found great comfort and satisfaction for his heart in the hope that one day he would go to be with his son in heaven. Is this not the joy of your heart? When our pilgrimage here is over we shall go to be with Christ in heaven! We shall see him who loved us and gave himself for us! (Isa. 33:17).

 

“What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see!

When I look upon His face,

The One who saved me by His grace!”

 

VII. The seventh lesson to be learned from this fallen saint is the blessed fact that the Lord our God is faithful, even to, no, especially to his fallen saints (12:24-25; 2 Tim. 2:13; Mk. 16:7).

 

     The faithfulness of our God is nowhere more evident than in the way he overrules the sins of his people to do them good (Psa. 76:10; Rom. 8:28). Though David’s act of taking Bathsheba greatly displeased the Lord, God gave him a son by her through whom his covenant promise and gracious purpose was fulfilled.

 

     No doubt, Bathsheba was greatly distressed with the sense of her sin and the tokens of God’s displeasure. So, when God restored to David the joy of his salvation, he comforted her with the comforts God had given him.

 

     A. They called their son Solomon, which means “Peace” (2 Sam. 23:5).

     B. But Nathan called him Jedidiah, which mean “Beloved of the Lord.”

     C. This man, Solomon, was a type of Christ, through whom we have peace, in whom we are beloved of the Lord! But more, Solomon is the man, through whom Christ came into the world! No mistake was made!

 

Application:

 

1. Beware of your sin.

2. Adore God’s grace.

3. Trust God’s Son.

 

·        Come now to your God, my fallen brother.

·        Come now to God, through Christ, lost sinner.

 

 



1 Danville (AM 09/27/92)—Todds Road Grace Church, Lexington, KY—Sovereign Grace Church, New Castle, IN—Bethel Baptist Church, Spring Lake, NC—Millsite Baptist Church, Cottageville, WV (All in 1992)—Lealman Church, St. Petersburg, FL (03/19/95)—Hampton, VA (10/25/95)—Victory Chapel Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC (12/01/95)—Kitchens Creek Baptist Church, Ball, LA (01/07/96)—Wichita Falls, TX (01/10/96)—Rescue Baptist Church, Rescue, CA (01/27/96)