2 Samuel 11 & 12      Motel Room Theology

Rev. David Holwick  ZP                                   King David series

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

December 10, 1995

2 Samuel 11:1-11


MOTEL ROOM THEOLOGY



  I. Comfort, or conviction?

      A. Two most famous stories about David:  Goliath, and Bathsheba.

          1) Action, and lust.

          2) We can identify with the second much more than the first.

          3) The Bible teaches us about sin mainly through stories.


      B. Strangely comforting to many.

          1) They lie in a motel room and think, "King David was the

                apple of God's eye.  And he did it."

          2) What they need to understand is the whole story.

              a) It should not make you feel "safe."

              b) David paid a steep price for his sin, but he learned

                    a valuable lesson.


      C. From David we also can learn a lesson about the cycle of sin.

          1) We move through five stages of this to come to complete

                spiritual healing.

          2) Five stages of sin:

              a) Sin

              b) Guilt.

              c) Repentance.

              d) Punishment.

              e) Forgiveness.


II. The actual sin.

      A. It is common to view individual sins as nuisances that, like

            parking tickets, will cause problems only if you accumulate

                too many.

          1) [Illustration of Chicago man with expensive parking tickets]

          2) The Bible has a far different perspective on sin, which it

                views more as cancer cells.


              a) One or two here and there do make a difference - often

                    the difference between life and death.

              b) Cancer cells grow, multiply, and take over, and they may

                    ultimately require major surgery.


          3) David's story is an account of the spread of moral cancer.

              a) Story is given in brief and objective manner.

              b) Not sensational style of Montel Williams, etc.

              c) Story shows God is more interested in our character than

                    our earthly success.


      B. David progresses from one sin to another in a downward spiral:

          1) Lust.

          2) Adultery.

          3) Cover-up lies.

          4) Murder of Uriah.

              a) Man is not even a Jew, but he has a higher regard for

                    God's covenant (ark, v. 11) than King David.

              b) His loyalty bears a high cost.


      C. Is adultery a big deal anymore?

          1) Adultery tied with murder is, but adultery alone is not.

          2) Yet adultery is not as "normal" as many people like to think.


  Adultery is the exception, not the rule - 94% of married people were

     faithful in the past year.

  The basic message of "Sex in America" survey is that men and women have

     found a way to come to terms with each other's sexuality

        - and it is called marriage.

  "Our study," write the authors, "clearly shows that no matter how

      sexually active people are before and between marriages... marriage

         is such a powerful social institution that, essentially, married

            people are all alike - they are faithful to their partners

               as long as the marriage is intact."

                                                                   #3427


III. Guilt.

      A. David quietly struggles with his guilt.

          1) David's response to Joab - "Don't let it upset you."   11:25

              a) David is actually trying to calm his own conscience.

          2) His inner turmoil is strongly shown when he responds to

                prophet Nathan's story.   (about a year later?)

              a) He impulsively calls for death sentence for rich man.

                  1> Notice how keen his sense of justice is.

                      A> He knows only restitution is called for, but

                            he sees the gross injustice of the situation.

                  2> He is actually passing judgment on himself.

              b) It is much easier for us to condemn sin in others,

                    than ourselves.


      B. False guilt occurs when a person punishes himself or herself

            for not measuring up to somebody else's standards:

          1) Parents, church, society.


      C. True guilt occurs when a person does not measure up to God's

            standards.

          1) There is a healthy place for true guilt.

              a) When we feel a twinge of conscience, we should first ask

                    whether we have done something deserving true guilt.

              b) If we have sinned, as David did, we should not repress

                    that guilt.

          2) It follows sin as naturally as pain follows injury.


      D. If our consciences convict us then we shouldn't avoid that guilt.

          1) Guilt is not a "state" to cultivate, like a mood you slip

                into for a few days.

          2) It is directional, first pointing backward to the sin, and

                then pointing to the next stage.


IV. Repentance.

      A. To David, restoring a right relationship with God was far more

            important than maintaining his reputation as a ruler.

          1) This was a turning point in David's life.             12:13

              a) Psalm 51 written in this context.

              b) He saw that his salvation was in danger.       Ps 51:11f

          2) Difference between David and Saul - Saul never repented.


      B. He understood that the objective of repentance was to bridge

            the gulf between the sinner and God.

          1) His sin affected many, but God was affected most.      51:4


  V. Punishment.

      A. David had failed miserably, and deserved punishment.

          1) Sin, no matter how insignificant, can lead to terrible

                consequences.

              a) David's sin didn't just affect him and Bathsheba, but

                    his whole family and dynasty.

              b) That is why the Bible takes individual sin so seriously.


          2) Three levels of punishment are given:

              a) The sword will not depart from his family.        12:10

                  1> One son rapes a half-sister.

                  2> Another commits a murder of revenge.

                  3> Same son launches an armed revolt against David and

                        nearly brings him down.

              b) He will be sexually humiliated by his son.        12:11

              c) The child born of sin will die.                   12:14

                  1> Doesn't seem fair, but is realistic.

                  2> Our families suffer most from our failings.


      B. How does God punish people?

          1) The Bible records some instances of God punishing directly.

          2) But more often the punishment flows naturally as a result

                of the sin.

              a) Get drunk enough and your liver will bear the punishment.

              b) Live a life of immorality, and you may end up with disease.

              c) Tell lies, and you'll find yourself isolated and untrusted.


      C. If you ignore God's rules, you risk bringing down punishment on

            yourself.

          1) It may take the form of physical harm.

          2) It may be fractured relationships.

          3) It may be a spiritual void.

              a) David faced each of these.


VI. Forgiveness.

      A. No one can avoid sinning.


      B. But when we do sin, we face choices on how to respond.

          1) We can yield to the temptation and sin for all we're worth,

                risking our self-destruction in the process.

          2) We can wallow in remorse and live under a constant cloud of

                guilt.

          3) Or we can advance from guilt to repentance, and then

                forgiveness, and take God at his word.             Ps 32*


      C. God is greater than our consciences.              1 John 3:19-22

          1) God forgave David and Bathsheba, and through them Jesus

                was descended.                                   Matt 1:6


VII. It is time to get serious about sin.

      A. We don't just affect ourselves, but everyone around us.

          1) Maybe generations will be affected by our actions.

          2) Our witness as a Christian hinges upon our lifestyle.


      B. Don't just avoid sin, but uphold faithfulness.

          1) Emphasize the positive and do right.


      C. Anything we have done, can be undone.  Our God is a forgiving God.


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Study notes: >>>>


Main inspiration:  article by Philip Yancey in Christianity Today, #2583.


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  Charles Swindoll, "David - A Man After God's Heart"  Bible study.

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  I. Motel Room Theology.  (Bathsheba)         2 Sam 11

      A. Black backdrop.     (motel room justification - "David did it.")

          1) Polygamy.

          2) Vulnerability.

          3) Indulgence.


      B. A sensuous scene.

          1) Lurid thought.

          2) Lustful act.

          3) Lingering result.


      C. A panic plan.

          1) Deception and hypocrisy.

          2) Violence and murder.

      D. A complete cover-up.

          1) Before the troops.

          2) Before the nations.

      E. Something missing.

          1) No prayer.

          2) No seeking of forgiveness or counsel.



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