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II Samuel eleven is one of those chapters in
the life of King David that we can be sure he wishes had never been recorded. What we see here is not the David, a man
after God’s own heart, but instead David, a man who acts on the lust in his
heart, committing at least two atrocious sins, adultery and murder. So let me begin with the larger picture
here.
Actually you might call this “climbing down the ladder to failure.” Here’s what it might look like. King David’s success. He’s now the king over a vast empire. Not only is he king over all Israel and Judah, he’s conquered the Philistines, the lands over as far east as Mesopotamia. He also conquered the Aramites, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Amalekites, and the Syrians [see II Samuel 8:6-14]. He even took over the King’s Highway between Aram and Edom. And he’s about the fully conquer and subjugate the Ammonites.
His inwards sins
His pride.
His lust.
His selfishness.
His turning away from the LORD.
His outward sins
His yielding to the temptation to commit adultery.
His lies and deception.
His murder of Uriah.
His marriage to Bathsheba.
Now the question should arise in your heart “Why would David who had been given so much and who appears to be so successful choose to destroy all his success by giving in to a temptation that he knows will surely destroy him? David himself gives us the answer. Turn with me to Psalm thirty-nine and verse one. Psalm 39:1 “To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. (2) I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. (3) My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, (4) LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. (5) Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (6) Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.”
The answer is this. Psalm 39:5 “…verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Instead of appreciating the gifts of God; instead of being overwhelmed by the person of God and His personal interest in us, instead of seeing all our successes as God-given, we all have this tendency to throw away His best gifts. Even at our best state we are altogether vanity.
Vanity = “Breath vapor”
The very same teaching is found in the NT. James 4:14 “… For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Those of us who have had breathing problems know how absolutely dependent we are upon our next breath of fresh air. Without it, we perish. That’s how simple it really is.
Have you ever wondered how greatly your selfishness affects the heart of God?
Yes, it’s true that David was a man after God’s own heart. But he also was a man who refused to quell his own lust for women. Some have said that this is the sin that so easily beset David; his temptation to give in to immorality.
But I think there’s a much more valid answer for David’s throwing it all away. Here it is. When we are successful, we sometimes tend to believe it was because we created that success.
Actually you might call this “climbing down the ladder to failure.” Here’s what it might look like. King David’s success. He’s now the king over a vast empire. Not only is he king over all Israel and Judah, he’s conquered the Philistines, the lands over as far east as Mesopotamia. He also conquered the Aramites, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Amalekites, and the Syrians [see II Samuel 8:6-14]. He even took over the King’s Highway between Aram and Edom. And he’s about the fully conquer and subjugate the Ammonites.
His inwards sins
His pride.
His lust.
His selfishness.
His turning away from the LORD.
His outward sins
His yielding to the temptation to commit adultery.
His lies and deception.
His murder of Uriah.
His marriage to Bathsheba.
Now the question should arise in your heart “Why would David who had been given so much and who appears to be so successful choose to destroy all his success by giving in to a temptation that he knows will surely destroy him? David himself gives us the answer. Turn with me to Psalm thirty-nine and verse one. Psalm 39:1 “To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. (2) I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. (3) My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, (4) LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. (5) Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (6) Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.”
The answer is this. Psalm 39:5 “…verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Instead of appreciating the gifts of God; instead of being overwhelmed by the person of God and His personal interest in us, instead of seeing all our successes as God-given, we all have this tendency to throw away His best gifts. Even at our best state we are altogether vanity.
Vanity = “Breath vapor”
The very same teaching is found in the NT. James 4:14 “… For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
Those of us who have had breathing problems know how absolutely dependent we are upon our next breath of fresh air. Without it, we perish. That’s how simple it really is.
Have you ever wondered how greatly your selfishness affects the heart of God?
Yes, it’s true that David was a man after God’s own heart. But he also was a man who refused to quell his own lust for women. Some have said that this is the sin that so easily beset David; his temptation to give in to immorality.
But I think there’s a much more valid answer for David’s throwing it all away. Here it is. When we are successful, we sometimes tend to believe it was because we created that success.