Main Street Baptist Church

When Leonardo da Vinci was painting his masterpiece The Last Supper, he sought long for a model for his Christ. At last he located a chorister in one of the churches of Rome who was lovely in life and features, a young man named Pietro Bandinelli. Years passed, and the painting was still unfinished. All the disciples had been portrayed save one -- Judas Iscariot. Now he started to find a man whose face was hardened and distorted by sin -- and at last he found a beggar on the streets of Rome with a face so villainous; he shuddered when he looked at him. He hired the man to sit for him as he painted the face of Judas on his canvas. When he was about to dismiss the man, he said, "I have not yet found out your name." "I am Pietro Bandinelli," he replied, "I also sat for you as your model of Christ." What had happened? Sin happened. The consequences and effects of sin are awful. Man reaps what he sows (Gal 6:7; Col. 3:25; Job 4:8; Hosea 8:7). The life of David shows that same truth. Even a “man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; I Sam 13:14; I Ki 15:3)” must suffer the consequences of sin. II Samuel is a prime example of that.

TRIUMPH The first half of the book (chapters 1 - 10) shows David’s triumph. He becomes ruler over the nation Israel and captures Jerusalem (still called the “City of David”), making it his capital. He expands the nation from 6,000 square miles to 60,000. He shows mercy to Mephibosheth. God blesses everything he does. He is greatly successful and prosperous. He is very rich, popular, and tremendously used by God. Unfortunately that sets him up for defeat, for it is when things are going well that we neglect our spiritual disciplines and Satan attacks.

TRANSGRESSION Half way through his 40 year reign David decides to stay home from war because things are going so well for his army (1 Samuel 11:1). When we neglect our God-given duties and responsibilities we are sitting ducks for Satan’s attacks. If David has been doing what he should have been doing, leading his army, his sin wouldn’t have happened.

A late-night walk on the roof of the highest building in Jerusalem led to a chance glance at Bathsheba bathing herself in the privacy of her own home (v. 2). Instead of looking away and removing the picture from his mind, David fed the thought until it became an action (v. 3). While secure against his enemies without, David’s greatest enemy was within. He couldn’t help the first look, and temptation isn’t sin (we don’t have to confess being tempted, just when we give in to it mentally or physically). It was the lust that he let build from the look that was sin, as Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:28. He should have fled, as Joseph did from Pharaoh’s wife (Genesis 39:1-13). God always provides a way out (I Cor. 10:13) if we flee, but not a way through if we keep going ahead. Satan baits his traps with something that appeals to us. With David it was a woman, a “beautiful” woman (to make it that much more tempting). Watch out!

Remember that this wasn’t just a one-time sin on David’s part. Satan had been building this trap for him for almost 30 years. David had a weakness for women, a lust for them, as evidenced in his several wives & concubines (I Sam 27:3; 30:5). This was magnified in his son Solomon who had almost 1000 wives and concubines (I Kings 11:3). David was a sensual person, Satan used that to set a trap for him. He tries that with everyone. It may be a lust or greed, or it may be a mental attitude sin like anger (which kept Moses out of the Promised Land), fear or bitterness. He doesn’t care what sin it is as long as it works! Make sure you know what ‘little’ sin Satan is working on in your life. God’s plan is for you to have peace and joy and to grow spiritually. Satan’s plan is to keep those from you. He can’t take away your salvation but he can take away your witness and peace.

TRIALS Everyone knows how the story of David and Bathsheba concluded (II Samuel 11 - 12). David resorts to lying and deceit to cover up his sin (11:5-7), even to drunkenness (v. 8-13). When none of that works he uses murder (14-17), thinking he has covered over his sin. But God knew (v. 27), and so did those in his household. Before long his enemies knew and it became a terrible testimony to them (12:14). Eventually David does repent (12:1-12; Psalm 51), after a year of misery (Psalm 32). Still, the consequences continue: the baby died, he who took another’s wife has his wives taken, his children follow his example with lust, rape, murder, death and deception common in his family, and the whole nation weakened. Enemies begin to prosper against Israel. He was forgiven, but had to reap what he sowed. Watch out for Stan’s traps in your lives. He has one going against each of us. Only be always staying close to Jesus and quickly fleeing every tempting thought that comes into our minds will be safe from such devastating consequences in our lives. Prov 28:13 says that “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

TITLE: Continuation of I Samuel

AUTHOR: Unknown (Gad or Nathan)

DATE of WRITING: Time of Solomon

PLACE of WRITING: Israel

TIME COVERED: 40 years (1011 - 971 BC)

RECIPIENTS: Jews

KEY VERSE: 2 Sam 11:27b But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.

KEY WORD: “David” 280 times

PURPOSE: To explain about David’s reign (it’s ups and downs) and to continue the history of Israel from Saul to Solomon

THEME: Effects of sin

Spend some time reading this book this week.