Introduction - Read Psalm 38
This next part of David's life has been hard for me to study. You see David was my hero - a young man after God's own heart. He loved God and was committed to serving Him from his youth. I have read this story of David and Bathsheba many a time, but I could never see how he could be tempted in this way - and then to go on to try and cover up his sins with `murder'. Well, we'll find out a little bit more about what happened to our `hero' later!
The exciting thing is, that David, overwhelmed by guilt and sickness because of these sins was able to write this and many other psalms. He was in anguish, broken and exhausted as he faced the consequences of his sins. Although he felt the anger of the Lord's rebuke and discipline, he is also knew the Lord's LOVE, MERCY and GRACE were greater.
His family and friends had left him, his enemies were still around him, and he was "on the verge of collapse", but in this Psalm 38 we see what David did:
* He CONFESSED HIS SINS with TRUE REMORSE.
* He SOUGHT THE LORD'S PRESENCE and FORGIVENESS.
* He SOUGHT GOD'S SALVATION and HELP.
We too know the Lord's LOVE, MERCY and GRACE, as he sent his only son Jesus to die on the cross for us. Psalm 38 tells us, we have a Saviour, who will give us full forgiveness and freedom from our sins. Like David, all we need to do is SEEK HIM.
"Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour." Psalm 38:22
"Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour." Psalm 38:22
" For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him." John 3:17
DAVID'S STORY
DAVID'S STORY
Read 2 Samuel 11:1-27
David was known as a man after God's own heart. He wrote songs of praise, he loved and served the Lord from a young shepherd boy. So what happened to make David commit two of the worst sins possible?
1) David wasn't where he was supposed to be. Yes, he was a King; but he was also a soldier and a father. He was supposed to be defending his country or spending time with his family. Instead, he was just `wandering around the palace'.
2) David was looking at what he shouldn't have - another man's wife. The devil knew David's weakness and temptation was being placed there in front of him.
3) David took what didn't belong to him - another man's wife. He then tried to cover up what he knew was a sin, with another sin - murder!
David really isn't any different to any of us. Even the most devoted Christian can be tempted by sin and can make mistakes. Oh it may not end up in adultery and murder, but there are another 8 commandments that can be broken when we are disobedient to God's will.
Remember the old children's song, which is still very popular with performers today:
Remember the old children's song, which is still very popular with performers today:
"Be careful little eyes what you see....
"Be careful little hands what you do.....
"Be careful little feet where you go......
God warns us that Satan is always looking for a way to trick and destroy us, by tempting us with wrong choices; and we will have to face the consequences for these choices. The good news is:
"The Father up above is looking down with love......"
As this song and David's psalms remind us, God's help is always available to us during these times of temptation, when we fall, and when we have to face the consequences. For our God is LOVING, MERCIFUL and FORGIVING!!
"Be careful little feet where you go......
God warns us that Satan is always looking for a way to trick and destroy us, by tempting us with wrong choices; and we will have to face the consequences for these choices. The good news is:
"The Father up above is looking down with love......"
As this song and David's psalms remind us, God's help is always available to us during these times of temptation, when we fall, and when we have to face the consequences. For our God is LOVING, MERCIFUL and FORGIVING!!
"In my anguish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free,
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me, He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies."
Psalm 118:5-7
1. Has there ever been a time when you have felt you might have made a wrong choice, and the consequences have not been so good?
NATHAN'S STORY - 2 Samuel 12
How would you like to tell a king how sinful he was? Nathan had to, Nathan was a prophet and if God asked him to do something, he would do it, even if he knew it might be unpopular.
Nathan had to confront David with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the consequent murder of her husband. He used a parable to help David understand what he had done. David finally realized who Nathan was talking about. He turned to God, acknowledged his sin and repented.
In this Psalm 34, David had began his prayer of confession, letting God know how the consequences of his sin were making him feel.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."
Psalm 34:18
In this place of prayer, David was overwhelmed by God's presence. David's guilt was removed, God's grace was revealed and David's health was restored.
Nathan was truly USED BY GOD! If you hear God speaking to you, LISTEN and OBEY! You never know how God can USE YOU!
2. Have you heard God talking to do? Take the step - be courageous, you may be surprised at how God will use you.
DAVID'S SUFFERING - Psalm 38:1-12
After Nathan had left David, his healing didn't happen automatically. Although he had acknowledged his sin and God had forgiven him, he still had to face the consequences for his actions. He still did not have total freedom!
David knew that God had been angry with him and although he knew that God's LOVE AND MERCY were greater, he still felt like he was dying under the consequences of his sin. His family and friends had left him alone; and his enemies who had told lies about him were still trying to kill him.
'I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38
His heart "beat wildly"and he was losing the "light in his eyes". His strength was failing. From experience these symptoms sounded very much like those of depression and anxiety.
SEEKING GOD'S HELP - Psalm 38:13-22
David now knew how easy it was `slip' and even `fall'. He did not want to make mistake, not only because the consequences were devastating, but because of how it effected his relationship with the Lord.
"For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer me, O Lord, my God......
Do no abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God." Psalm 38:15 &21
Instead he went to the Lord and sought HIS HELP! He was not too proud to admit that he had done the wrong thing, and he was seeking the help of His SAVIOUR.
"But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done." Psalm 38:18
"Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour." Psalm 38:22
This psalm speaks clearly of the Lord our Saviour. In David's time, it was God they called on for forgiveness and salvation. But we now have Jesus Christ as OUR SAVIOUR, who died on the cross so that we could have TOTAL FREEDOM from our sins.
3. Do you need total freedom and salvation from sin? Seek God's help now. Jesus, your Saviour, is the only one who can give it to you.
CONCLUSION
Psalm 38 and David's Story in 2 Samuel 11&12 cover a wide range of themes on temptation, sin, consequences and forgiveness; but in the end we have the most important - FREEDOM AND SALVATION!
New Living Translation Bible (1996), Tyndale Publishers
1. Has there ever been a time when you have felt you might have made a wrong choice, and the consequences have not been so good?
NATHAN'S STORY - 2 Samuel 12
How would you like to tell a king how sinful he was? Nathan had to, Nathan was a prophet and if God asked him to do something, he would do it, even if he knew it might be unpopular.
Nathan had to confront David with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the consequent murder of her husband. He used a parable to help David understand what he had done. David finally realized who Nathan was talking about. He turned to God, acknowledged his sin and repented.
In this Psalm 34, David had began his prayer of confession, letting God know how the consequences of his sin were making him feel.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."
Psalm 34:18
In this place of prayer, David was overwhelmed by God's presence. David's guilt was removed, God's grace was revealed and David's health was restored.
Nathan was truly USED BY GOD! If you hear God speaking to you, LISTEN and OBEY! You never know how God can USE YOU!
2. Have you heard God talking to do? Take the step - be courageous, you may be surprised at how God will use you.
DAVID'S SUFFERING - Psalm 38:1-12
After Nathan had left David, his healing didn't happen automatically. Although he had acknowledged his sin and God had forgiven him, he still had to face the consequences for his actions. He still did not have total freedom!
David knew that God had been angry with him and although he knew that God's LOVE AND MERCY were greater, he still felt like he was dying under the consequences of his sin. His family and friends had left him alone; and his enemies who had told lies about him were still trying to kill him.
'I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow -
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love." Romans 8:38
His heart "beat wildly"and he was losing the "light in his eyes". His strength was failing. From experience these symptoms sounded very much like those of depression and anxiety.
SEEKING GOD'S HELP - Psalm 38:13-22
David now knew how easy it was `slip' and even `fall'. He did not want to make mistake, not only because the consequences were devastating, but because of how it effected his relationship with the Lord.
"For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer me, O Lord, my God......
Do no abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God." Psalm 38:15 &21
Instead he went to the Lord and sought HIS HELP! He was not too proud to admit that he had done the wrong thing, and he was seeking the help of His SAVIOUR.
"But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done." Psalm 38:18
"Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour." Psalm 38:22
This psalm speaks clearly of the Lord our Saviour. In David's time, it was God they called on for forgiveness and salvation. But we now have Jesus Christ as OUR SAVIOUR, who died on the cross so that we could have TOTAL FREEDOM from our sins.
3. Do you need total freedom and salvation from sin? Seek God's help now. Jesus, your Saviour, is the only one who can give it to you.
CONCLUSION
Psalm 38 and David's Story in 2 Samuel 11&12 cover a wide range of themes on temptation, sin, consequences and forgiveness; but in the end we have the most important - FREEDOM AND SALVATION!
New Living Translation Bible (1996), Tyndale Publishers
The Life of David As Reflected in the Psalms, Alexander Maclaren, Butler & Tanner.
"God Help Me", Gordon Churchyard, www.easyenglish.info
