2 Samuel 12:1-14– Sin Hurts.

Jesus, the prophets, and Bible preachers often used parables, allegories, or stories to illustrate and illuminate Truth and teach a moral lesson. Such is the case with Nathan the prophet in today’s text.

King David had lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of Israel’s elite warriors who was away fighting the Philistines. David committed adultery with her. Then when he learned she was pregnant with his child, tried to cover his sin by bringing Uriah home, getting him drunk, and going home to his wife. But Uriah refused.

So David conspired to leave Uriah alone in a battle so he would be killed. Essentially having him murdered. Then David took Bathsheba to be his wife. Months passed and David continued as if all was well. But it wasn’t. God was displeased.

God then sent Nathan the prophet to confront David. What would he say to the most powerful man in the kingdom? What could he say?

Nathan told a story about two men. One rich. The other poor. The rich man possessed many flocks and herds. The poor had one little ewe lamb that was like his children’s pet. It ate at his table. He held it in his arms. He loved it like a daughter.

One day the rich man had a guest visiting. So, he took the poor man’s lamb and had it prepared for dinner.

The Bible says, “David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’”

David had pronounced his own judgment.

“You are that man,” Nathan said to David.

God had blessed David with power, prosperity, position, and great wealth. Yet, he coveted his neighbor wife. Committed adultery. Conspired a coverup. And continued ruling as if he had done nothing wrong.

When confronted by the Truth David confessed saying, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

There are multiple lessons to learn from this sordid tale, but consider these three.

#1 The deceptive nature of sin.

David is identified in the Bible as “the man after God’s own heart.” He was courageous when he killed the giant Goliath. He was talented as a poet and musician. He was loved by the people and hailed as a hero. He chosen by God to be King over all his older brothers. And he was magnanimous in his attitude toward King Saul who tried to kill him.

Yet, with all these privileges bestowed by God’s grace, David fell prey to the temptation of lust and sexual immorality. If David was not immune to Satan’s enticement, who is?

Every preacher, pastor, parent, and Bible teacher ought to seriously consider this warning. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:13). Sin’s allurement is subtle. It’s engagement exciting. Its consummation pleasurable. But sin deceives. It offers a false hope and a fraudulent promise.

#2 The confession of sin.

To his credit David admitted his sin. His thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions had been sinful. They violated God’s law and broke the 10 Commandments.

Too often we use euphemistic expressions when speaking of sin. We call it a mistake, an error, poor judgment, a bad choice, a blunder, a moment of weakness. A tryst, affair, or rendevous doesn’t sound quite as bad as adultery. But the Bible bluntly calls sin iniquity, an abomination, and wickedness.

I’ve heard people qualify it by saying, “If I have sinned….” Well, have you? Or haven’t you? Don’t diminish the confession with the word “if.” Own up to it.

Furthermore, note that David said his sin was “against the Lord.” Sin is sin because there is a God and it violates His Word. Sin is an affront to God. Sin displeases Him and grieves Him.

#3 The consequences of sin.

While God forgave David and extended him mercy, there were still consequences he would suffer from his sin. The child born to Bathsheba would die. David’s family would be divided. His own son would turn against him. The latter years of his reign would not be pleasant.

There’s an old adage that says, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.” This was true in David’s case. It is still true today.

Sin is serious. It soils the soul. It scars the conscience. It separates us from God (Isa 29:1-2).

Let’s never whitewash, rationalize, or minimize sin.

Sin hurts.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman