2 Samuel 11:1-5, 22-27, David the Sinner (1)

The covenant was made by God in 1 Sam. 7.  The opening words of 1 Sam. 8 are “after this.”  After the covenant we have an accounting of David’s victories over his enemies.  The LORD promised to preserve David and we see this promise kept here (8:6,18).  Remember this as you read the Psalms.  Psalm 2 is Messianic, speaking of God’s promise to give His Son the nations for an inheritance.  But the promise in the covenant was for David, and his sons, as well as his Son, the Messiah.  That is why David cries out for deliverance from his enemies in the Psalms.  He is exercising faith in the covenant God made with him.

But now we come to another critical event in David’s life that came “after this,” after the covenant had been made.  That event is his terrible sin of adultery that led to lies and murder, and that had far-reaching consequences. 

o   Consequences of David’s sin:

1.    12:15-23: the death of the baby.

2.    13:14: David’s daughter was raped by one of his sons, Amnon.

3.    13:29: Amnon was killed by Absalom.

4.    15:10: Absalom revolted against David.  Absalom was aided by a wise counselor, Ahithophel, who was the grandfather of Bathsheba (cf. 2 Sam. 11:3; 15:12; 25:34).

5.    16:22: David’s concubines were raped by Absalom.

6.    18:15: Absalom was murdered.

7.    David’s heart was hardened (several months between sin and confession).

8.    David had a troubled kingdom; he was ineffective in his leadership.

o   Lessons for us to consider:

1.    This story is a warning and we need it much today.

2.    Prosperous times are perilous times.  As God was establishing David’s kingdom David desired to show kindness to Mephibosheth (9:1), and then desired to show kindness to Hanun (10:1).  But when the kingdom was stable, and David didn’t feel the need to go out with the army, David desired his neighbor’s wife (11:1).

3.    One sin breeds many more. 

4.    Be sure your sin will find you out! (Num. 32:23)

5.    It is against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

6.    This is a profound story of God’s forgiveness.  David’s repentance was real (cf. Ps. 51 and 32).  God’s forgiveness was real.  David still endured serious consequences.  That’s what God promised in the covenant: He would never take away His mercy to David, but He would punish the sins of the Davidic king, including David himself!