From the time David was a shepherd boy, he was a passionate lover and faithful follower of God. Then later in his career (2 Samuel 11), David committed adultery and murder. David hardly seemed like a candidate for moral disaster. His life is a warning for us. How could a man ‘after God’s own heart’ fall morally like this?
1. David drifted from God. David began making little decisions that ultimately led to the moral disaster. David stayed behind when he should have been leading his army to war. His relationship with God cooled and, with a lot of time on his hands, he began to focus more on his needs and desires.
Moral failure is usually the fruit of a slow leak or a subtle moral deterioration in a person’s life. There is a dark side to success. When people achieve a level of success or get bored, they lose their sense of mission, focus on lesser things like comfort and the easy life, and become vulnerable to temptation and falling morally like David did.
2. David became fixated on an illicit desire. He spotted a beautiful woman bathing. Then, instead of turning away, David sent someone to find out about her.
3. David ignored a spiritual warning light. David’s servant tried to warn David not to pursue this by pointing out that Bathsheba was the wife of one of his faithful soldiers. David ignored the warning and sent for her. He slept with her and then sent her home. End of story.
Sin always comes with a cost. David thought it was the end of the story, but Bathsheba became pregnant.
The mind controlled by an illicit lust has an infinite capacity to rationalize. When you are facing a specific temptation and rationalizing about giving in, stop and ask the Spirit of God to help you understand what the consequences will be if you mishandle this part of your life.
4. David tried to cover up his sin. Lust ended in murder. He arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle. David brought Bathsheba to the palace, she became his wife and ultimately gave birth to a son. The coverup continued. But David’s journal in Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 reveals that David was tormented trying to cover up his sin. He lost his joy in life.
Finally, God used Nathan as His mouthpiece to confront David about his sin. Nathan told David a simple story about a poor farmer who loved his little lamb and a rich farmer who stole that lamb. When David burned with anger and wanted to put the rich farmer to death, Nathan pointed to David and said, “You are the man!”
That melted David’s hardened heart. He faced his own sin and took full responsibility for it.
King David wrote Psalm 51 after he was confronted by Nathan. David pleaded with God, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (v.12). David said to God, “I want to be close to you again and experience the joy of our friendship again.”
How you can avoid moral failure? How can you experience the joy of being reconciled to God again?
1. Pay attention to the warning lights. Don’t try to rationalize that you’ll get away with it.
2. Take ownership of your sin and confess it. Don’t try to cover it up. Repent and make it right.
3. Abide in the Lord. Understand and embrace God’s grace. Despite David’s terrible sins, God still loved him and made a way for him to become his friend again.