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.

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Sermon:  "Deceitfulness of Sin"      


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