_ The first and most obvious lesson here is
this. Covering our sin will generate spiritual dullness. Proverbs 28:13 “He
that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh
them shall have mercy.”
David, like you and me, must reap exactly what he has sown. Yet, again like you and me, we can’t see what we’ve done. It appears as though David is so dull spiritually that he can’t connect a Prophet sent from God with a parable to a pre-meditated murder. Why else would a Prophet come into the King’s court? Could it be possible that David didn’t think God knew what he had done? Could it be possible that David didn’t think Nathan had any idea what he’d done? Is it possible that David that God was overlooking his immorality? There is such a web of sin when we choose to sin and to cover it up. If there is a need in the hearts of human beings, it is this. We need to stop what we are doing and check our spirits against the Spirit of the LORD. We need to ask Him if there is anything in our hearts that is grieving Him. You see, when we sin and choose to cover up our sin, we develop spiritual dullness.
One of the most blessed things you can enjoy as a Believer in Christ is a sensitivity to sin and wrong. We call this the conviction of the Spirit. When we sin, our spirit must experience two things: one, the withdrawal of the presence of the LORD; and two, the conviction in our spirits that we have offended God. Without these two things, we will attempt to justify ourselves. We will advance into spiritual despondency. And we will try to do quote “religious” things in order to sort of “pay” for our sin. None of this works. You see, you will lose your spiritual tone.
It is a treasure that God has sent His Spirit to live inside your spirit. And He must bring a conviction to your spirit when you choose sin and evil over a right relationship with Him. Every sin is a choice. None of us quote “falls into sin.” We choose it every single time. Yet, just beyond that sin comes the beginning of a harvest. You will reap exactly what you have sown. And what exactly is spiritual dullness? The answer is given to us in the NT in the Book of Hebrews. Please open with me to Hebrews chapter five and verse eleven.
Hebrews 5:11 “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Here’s what spiritual dullness is.
The first thing that goes is our ability to read, accept, believe and teach the truths of the Bible. When we could have been teachers of others, we have become learners and actually learners of things learned by beginners. Solid meat is for growing Christians. But there is no interest in it whatsoever. The unimportant becomes the important and vice versa. And the only spiritual things you receive are the milk of the Scripture. If a baby can’t grow into a mature adult on milk only, then a Christian can’t grow into a mature adult Christian on milk only. The simpler things of God’s word are by far preferred to reading and learning how to walk with the LORD. And in spite of this, we will be convinced of our ability to make moral judgments. You will find it easier and easier to see the sins of others and pass judgment on them as opposed to being able to help them spiritually.
Let me show you this new ability to make moral judgments in David. Look again at II Samuel twelve five. (5) “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: (6) And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” David thought he could clearly see the sins in someone else; someone who had taken a mere lamb, slain it, and prepared a meal from it for someone else. You see, sinning and trying to get away with it doesn’t exempt you from making moral decisions for others and passing judgment on them. Go on to page three
David, like you and me, must reap exactly what he has sown. Yet, again like you and me, we can’t see what we’ve done. It appears as though David is so dull spiritually that he can’t connect a Prophet sent from God with a parable to a pre-meditated murder. Why else would a Prophet come into the King’s court? Could it be possible that David didn’t think God knew what he had done? Could it be possible that David didn’t think Nathan had any idea what he’d done? Is it possible that David that God was overlooking his immorality? There is such a web of sin when we choose to sin and to cover it up. If there is a need in the hearts of human beings, it is this. We need to stop what we are doing and check our spirits against the Spirit of the LORD. We need to ask Him if there is anything in our hearts that is grieving Him. You see, when we sin and choose to cover up our sin, we develop spiritual dullness.
One of the most blessed things you can enjoy as a Believer in Christ is a sensitivity to sin and wrong. We call this the conviction of the Spirit. When we sin, our spirit must experience two things: one, the withdrawal of the presence of the LORD; and two, the conviction in our spirits that we have offended God. Without these two things, we will attempt to justify ourselves. We will advance into spiritual despondency. And we will try to do quote “religious” things in order to sort of “pay” for our sin. None of this works. You see, you will lose your spiritual tone.
It is a treasure that God has sent His Spirit to live inside your spirit. And He must bring a conviction to your spirit when you choose sin and evil over a right relationship with Him. Every sin is a choice. None of us quote “falls into sin.” We choose it every single time. Yet, just beyond that sin comes the beginning of a harvest. You will reap exactly what you have sown. And what exactly is spiritual dullness? The answer is given to us in the NT in the Book of Hebrews. Please open with me to Hebrews chapter five and verse eleven.
Hebrews 5:11 “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Here’s what spiritual dullness is.
The first thing that goes is our ability to read, accept, believe and teach the truths of the Bible. When we could have been teachers of others, we have become learners and actually learners of things learned by beginners. Solid meat is for growing Christians. But there is no interest in it whatsoever. The unimportant becomes the important and vice versa. And the only spiritual things you receive are the milk of the Scripture. If a baby can’t grow into a mature adult on milk only, then a Christian can’t grow into a mature adult Christian on milk only. The simpler things of God’s word are by far preferred to reading and learning how to walk with the LORD. And in spite of this, we will be convinced of our ability to make moral judgments. You will find it easier and easier to see the sins of others and pass judgment on them as opposed to being able to help them spiritually.
Let me show you this new ability to make moral judgments in David. Look again at II Samuel twelve five. (5) “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: (6) And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” David thought he could clearly see the sins in someone else; someone who had taken a mere lamb, slain it, and prepared a meal from it for someone else. You see, sinning and trying to get away with it doesn’t exempt you from making moral decisions for others and passing judgment on them. Go on to page three