This message reviews how David handled some of the tough issues he had to confront and decision that he made that we could learn from.
A. 2 Sam 12:1-23
This is the story of the adultery and murder committed by David. A secret sin that God himself exposed.
Many of us are hard on others. David judged himself without knowing,
V5. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.
V11. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
What do you do when God confronts you with your sin?
If you are wise like David, own up and ask for mercy.
v13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
If a man commits adultery or fornication and he repents, he will still go to heaven but that does not mean he will be healed of AIDS if he had contacted it.
A repentant adulterous wife may end up in heaven but may loose her home/marriage while on earth.
In Luke 23:39-43. Two robbers were crucified with Jesus. One of them ended up in paradise because he repented just before he died.
If you want mercy from God, when your sin has been exposed, your repentance must be genuine.
Look at Psalm 51
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
David immediately went into prayer and fasting.
2 Sam 12:16- David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
After 7 days the child died. Prayer and fasting did not work here because God has pronounced judgement. He said David will not die. That was true but he suffered the consequences of his action.
When David found out the child was dead, what did he do?
V20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
How do you handle situations where God is not allowing you to have your way?
How do you handle corrections from the Lord?
Prov. 3:11- My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
Heb.12:5-11- My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
When God is trying to strengthen you out, though it may be painful, allow him, don’t grumble, don’t justify the sin, just pray for mercy and don’t blame God. When God pronounced judgement on cain for murder.
Gen 4:13- and Cain said unto the Lord, my punishment is greater than I can bear.
How did the story end for David?
2 Sam 12:24-25
David comforted his wife and they tried again. This time God gave them another son, he called his name Solomon. Bible says the Lord loved him. God sent a name through Nathan that he should be called Jedidiah (God’s Beloved).
- BIG LESSON ALLOW GOD’S CORRECTION. YOU CANNOT BE MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN GOD. YOU CANNOT MARK YOUR OWN QUESTION PAPERS.
B. 1 Sam. 30:1-19
The enemies invaded Ziklag while David and his men were away. They took the women and the children away including the two wives of David. The Amalekites burned the place with fire.
1 Sam. 30:4- Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
1 Sam. 30:6- And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
What do you do when you are in a distress or depressed? What do you do when it seems you have lost everything?
You have to look up. David encouraged himself in the Lord.
- Don’t stop coming to church
- Don’t stop your praise
- Don’t blame God
- Don’t join a secret society
- Don’t give up on life.
What was the response of David.
V6 but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
What can be learnt from David?
-Don’t rush in taking decisions. When it seems your world has collapsed. Wait for instructions from the commander in chief.
V8 And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
Do you know what it means to ask God saying shall I pursue after this troop?
You mean you need to ask if God before you go to look for your missing wives?
Let me tell you my experience about 15 years ago.
We went to camp for special Holy Ghost service. Last day which was on Saturday my wife said she was going back to Lagos to be with the choir. I waited for the final prayers. I was about to leave camp when my phone rang. It was my wife; she was back in camp. We drove down to Lagos together I was in front. At Alapere I was stopped by Policemen. They were actually armed robbers. They asked me to get down and lie on the road. They took my ring, watch and wanted money. I was in a jeep but had just about 2-3k with me. They were upset and said they will take me with them.
Another one came to the door and I told him the others had taken everything I had on me. He asked me to enter the car and to drive off.
I then remembered my wife I thought a car that looked like her car in front of me but the lights suddenly went off and it disappeared. I got home hoping to see her. I didn’t. I was crying and planning. I changed cars, got armed policemen and went looking for her around 1:00am.
Did I ask God whether I should go out? No. I felt it was my duty.
Don’t assume. Pray.
c. 1 Sam. 17:23-52
David heard Goliath boast but he was more interested in the reward for the person that will take down Goliath.
V28 Elaib his eldest brother discouraged him
V33 Saul discouraged him
V37 David said the God that delivered him out of the hands of the lion and the bear will help him prevail.
V39 David rejected the armour of Saul, he said I have not proved them.
David went against Goliath and prevailed.
*Don’t be afraid to go against conventional thinking or against the crowd.
*Don’t just go against popular opinion except you have superior knowledge or information others may not be privy to.
*David was not reckless he was informed. He did not take undue risk- he refused to use untested armour.
V37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
But do you know that this same David ran away from his son (Absalom) & Ahitophel and also from Saul?
You have to keep on checking from God the best strategies for your battles.
In 1 Sam 21:13-15, he had to act like a mad man to escape bring killed by Achish King of Gath.
If you are discerning, you will have noticed that you have to be in partnership with God to be able to do what David did. David had a relationship with God, he allowed God to direct him.
You need God to navigate life. No matter how high, mighty or intelligent you may be, life happens and divine assistance is required not too sink.
The first stage in this partnership is to invite God to be your partner.
Romans 10:9-10
v9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
v10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Let us pray.