Context 2 Samuel 12

• David is not where he was supposed to be.
• He is vulnerable to common sin- coveting, lusting, self-indulgence lead to weakness in resisting temptation.
• Abuses his power and takes for himself a woman who was married to one of his 37 mighty men.
• Commits adultery, impregnates her, and kills her husband to cover over his sin.

2 Samuel 2:11:27b says “…But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

Displeasing God is something each of us have done and some continue to do habitually.  The question is are we aware of this and do we care?

Read 2 Samuel 12:1-14a

Sin has an insidious way of blinding us and even sanitizing our view of our own actions of sin. 

• David couldn’t see himself in the parable even though it was shepherd and lamb a story he would be quite sensitive to.
• He acknowledged such an act was worthy of death and 4x in value reparation. (5-6)
• The primary appalling act that David was disgusted by was the lack of pity. (6b)

The greater sin of David was to despise the word of the Lord. (9)

• Murder- greatest consequential societal act.
•  Adultery- Greatest consequential relational act.
•  To despise is to disrespect or dislike something because you find it of no value.
•  Adultery and murder were symptoms of something greater in David—he found the word of the Lord to be of no value in how to live his life.

Sanitizing sin is hard to do once the light is on it.  (13)

• It would be tragic if the heart is so hard that the light changed nothing in our self-perception.
• David acknowledged he had sinned against the Lord.

Once caught or convicted of sin, what do you do?

David’s example of repentance.  Psalm 51

• Get rid of the stain of my sin (1): Cover my sins, erase them Lord.
• Wash them away and make me clean that I may walk with you confidently. (2): Restoring the relationship.
• He understands that the knowledge of his sin will stay with him. (3)
• Consequences are just. (4)
• Acknowledges the inherited sinful nature. (5)
• Yet God’s work to bring us to Him begins in the womb. (6)
• God is the only one who can cleanse and make clean a sinner. (7)
• Asks for joy to return to him. (8)

Going forward

• He asks for God to not look upon his sinful past, but to renew him with a steadfast spirit. (9-10)
• Pleads for God to stay with him and restore him to the joy of his salvation. (11-12)
• He commits to teaching others that God is merciful, forgiving, and restores, so turn to Him! (13)
• Pleads for help with the weight of the guilt he feels. (14)
• Commits to singing praise out of a broken spirit and contrite heart—a true sacrifice of praise. (15-17)

God’s response to David.  2 Samuel 13-14a “Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But…”

• Consequences of sin remain, although the severity was tempered by the Lord—he would live. 
• God viewed him before and after as a man after his own heart. 1 Samuel 13:14
• God remained faithful in His promise to David to have his lineage be eternal. 2 Samuel 7, Revelation 5:5, Revelation 22:16 

Human responses to sin.

• Towards yourself- denial, minimize, hide, guilt, shame, identity of failure, avoid God.
• Others about your sin- judgment, anger, labeling, gossip, little allowance for change, condemnation, shunning. 

God’s response to sin.

1. Must be accounted for.

It must be accounted for and acknowledged as sin.
Confession to having committed sin.
Repentance born of remorse and leads to renewed living under God’s lordship.

2. He restores and renews the person and His relationship with them.

Forgiveness and mercy.
Grace in a renewed relationship.
He identifies you as His child.

Has a sinful failure led you to feeling like there is a barrier between you and God?

• Minimizing or in denial?
• Confessed and repented?
• Carrying shame, a label, or been shunned/judged?

To overcome failure, approach God like David.

1. Confess and acknowledge your sin.
2. Ask for Him to renew your heart—broken and contrite.
3. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, trust in the mercy, forgiveness, restoration, and restoration of your relationship to Him.