 |
Deceitfulness of Sin |
Dear Brethren,
Each year as we prepare for Passover, we are
directed by God to examine ourselves (1Corinthians 11:28, 2Corinthians 13:5). How can
we have a deep and accurate introspection of our spiritual condition? Would we know it
if we were not correctly scrutinizing our lives? What if we are not really able
to look deeply into ourselves to see what God sees? Could we be deceived about the
status of our spiritual lives? The answer is, "Yes." "Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from
the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
(Hebrews 3:12-13)
King David praised God in the Psalms; he was converted; he had God's Holy
Spirit; he won the victory over Goliath; he united the twelve tribes
of Israel, and he was a man after God’s own heart. How then, could
David commit adultery with Bathsheba, have her husband, Uriah,
killed, and then live in a state of deniability of
the entire sordid affair? Of course, he knew that adultery and
murder were sinful acts in violation of God’s commandments. How was
it possible that he could not see himself? How did he fail so
miserably to examine himself and see his sins?
Spiritually, David had become complacent. David had ceased fighting
the Christian battle. Did he know better? Of course he did. And
yet, the Bible reveals the terrible story of David's adultery and
murder. He should have said to himself, “This is not lawful for
me,” but he did not? Why?
"It came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his
bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof
he saw a woman washing herself; [David should have stopped and
turned away at that very moment.] and the woman was very
beautiful to look upon." (2Samuel 11:2)
Bathsheba was "very beautiful to look upon," means that
David observed her for more than just an instant. He was not
guarding his mind. He let his thoughts run wild and did not
restrain himself. He dismissed any concept that told him his
actions were wrong and sinful. David set out on his seductive
course and did not measure the consequences of his thoughts and
actions. David took great advantage of the blessings God had given
him as King of Israel – he misused his office. He was not standing
firm in God’s Truth and Righteousness.
How do we know that is what happened? Because, as James was inspired to
write years later, that was the sequence that every person goes
through when he sins. "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived,
it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death. Do not err, my beloved brethren."
(James
1:14-16)
David wanted a beautiful woman – it did not matter to him what God
wanted. David’s mind was not on the Word of God, the Law of God, or
the Plan of God. He cast aside all restraint. "And David sent
and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba,
the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
(2Samuel 11:3) Bathsheba was the daughter of a good friend of
David's, and the wife of one of his mighty men! David should have
stopped right then and there, but his lust was motivating him at
that point. He certainly was not thinking rationally. He took no
precautions to avoid inappropriate conduct.
"And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him,
and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and
she returned unto her house." (2Samuel 11:4) She went
straight home in shame – they both knew how wrong their covetousness
for each other was. The phrase, “purified from her
uncleanness,” meant that she had just completed the time of her
monthly cycle, and was clearly not carrying a child by her husband,
Uriah, when David lay with her. "And the woman conceived, and
sent and told David, and said, I am with child." (2Samuel
11:5) At that point, David set about conniving a plan of “damage
control.” He reasoned that if Uriah obtained a leave of absence,
went home to his wife, and then later found out that she was
expecting – he would be none the wiser.
When it became clear to David that his scheme was not working, he set in
motion a conspiracy to have Uriah killed in action. "And it
came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and
sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying,
Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye
from him, that he may be smitten, and die." (2Samuel 11:14-15)
The reprehensible plan worked, and Uriah was slain. David went about
his business as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.
He did not judge himself, he did not repent of his despicable sins,
and he proceeded with his life as though there were no God on His
throne in heaven. David’s response to his battle field commander
who was complicit in the conspiracy to murder Uriah was, “Do not
worry about it, it could have happened to anybody.”
"And when the mourning [over Uriah's death] was past, David
sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare
him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."
(2Samuel 11:27) Here is the important question that we need to ask
ourselves. A considerable amount of time passed and David had not
repented of his sins, nor had he been reconciled to God.
What was going on in David’s mind? We would say, “How
could he live with himself?” But David was in some sort of a
state of denial. David's thought process had lost its spiritual
edge, and become delusional. He was saying to himself,
“Everything is copasetic - it's OK -all things are completely
acceptable and very satisfactory.” This is a perfect example of the
deceivableness of sin.
How could David be so out of touch with spiritual reality? The answer
lies in the fact that sin destroys discernment. Sin destroys
right judgment. Things were not satisfactory in God’s eyes because
the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. David
would never have recovered from the terrible predicament he had
placed himself in if it were not for God's intervention. "And
the Lord sent Nathan [the prophet] unto David. And he came unto him,
and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and
the other poor." (2Samuel 12:1)
Today, we bring difficult legal cases to the Supreme Court, but in
David’s day, the king was the supreme judge and ruler – the Chief
Justice – holding the power of life and death in his hands. Nathan
brought a difficult case to King David so that he might render a
legal and binding decision and ruling on the matter. "The rich
man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had
nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished
up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did
eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom,
and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the
rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own
herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but
took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come
to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and
he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this
thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the
lamb fourfold (Exodus 22:1), because he did this thing, and
because he had no pity." (2Samuel 12:2-6)
"And Nathan said to David, Thou art the [guilty] man.
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do
evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the
sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife..." (2Samuel
12:7,9)
Finally, David’s heart was smitten and he began to see his horrific
sins. David in his royal decree had pronounced his own death
sentence, which Nathan declared to be commutated, that is reversed.
Why did not God require David’s death? Because of God’s mercy. And
why was God merciful to David? We find the answer in the next verse
– God was merciful to David because David was repentant.
"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And
Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou
shalt not die." (2Samuel 12:13) But God disciplined David in
many areas for the rest of his life. God judged David so that David
would learn not to sin. "Howbeit, because by this deed thou
hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme,
the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die."
(2Samuel 12:14) That was God’s righteous judgment, and it came to
pass.
Brethren, this Biblical history was preserved – not for David – but
for us. God does not have to send us a prophet – He has done that
once, and we have the written record. As we examine ourselves, our
blindness will be removed when we repent of going against God’s
clear instructions for a holy people.
***
Sermon: "Deceitfulness of Sin"
|
