DAVID'S SIN AND REPENTANCE

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Repentance is a commandment of God, but at the same time a
      wonderful privilege extended by God.
      1. What if, after committing sin, there was no chance to       
         repent?
         All would be condemned, because all have sinned. Rom. 3:23
      2. Repentance, then, is an expression of the longsuffering and
         mercy of God. Acts 11:18
      3. We all should maintain the right attitude toward repentance
         and not think it such a burdensome obligation, for without  
         it we would have no hope.
   B. The Bible gives a number of illustrations of repentance, and   
      one of the best is that of king David of the O.T.
   C. The sin of David is revealed in 2 Samuel 11.
      1. David commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah
         the Hittite. Vs. 2-5
      2. When one tries to hide his sin, it often leads to more sin.
         a. David calls for Uriah and tries to send him home so that
            he would think that the child was his.
         b. David tries to get Uriah drunk so that the would go
            home to his wife.
      3. David sends Uriah back to the battlefield to be killed. Vs. 
         11
      4. The Lord sends Nathan the prophet to convict David.
      5. David says, "I have sinned against the Lord."
   D. The sin of David is one of the worse revealed in the Bible.
      1. Yet, the humbleness of David provides a good illustration of
         the attitude we should have toward our sin.

I. FIRST OF ALL, DAVID DIDN'T TRY TO SHIFT THE BLAME.
   A. Bathsheba is just as much at fault as David.
      1. She bathed in plain sight of surrounding buildings.
         a. All women should take a lesson from Bathsheba.
            (1) If you cause lust by your immodesty, you sin
                because of your immodesty.  1 Tim. 2:8-10
            (2) The one doing the lusting also sins. Matt. 5:28
      2. Bathsheba went in unto David. 2 Sam. 11:4
         a. There is no indication that she was forced to do this.
      3. But as guilty as she was, David still took his part of the
         blame without shifting it onto her.
   B. There were others who were not so penitent of their sins.
      1. Adam tried to shift the blame to Eve, and Eve shifted the
         blame to the serpent. Gen. 3:12-13
      2. Aaron who made the golden calf tried to shift the blame to
         the people. Ex. 32:21-24
      3. King Saul shifted the blame to the people. 1 Sam. 15:13-15
   C. There are many who try to excuse their sin today.
      1. First, they defend themselves saying they have not sinned.
         They affirm, "I'm excused because of the situation."
      2. Secondly, they try to blame their sin on others. A common
         tactic, "You are the sinner, not me," "you are falsely
         accusing me," etc.
      3. The terrible danger here is, with that attitude, they will  
         never repent.
   D. All need to remember that each will be judged for his own
      actions.
      1. David was severely punished for his sin. 2 Sam. 12:10-14
      2. Though Adam, Aaron, and Saul tried to shift the blame, they
         were still punished by God.
      3. God will punish everyone who sins, who will not repent, no
         matter what the excuse. Rom. 2:4-6

II. In his willingness to accept personal guilt, DAVID ACKNOWLEDGED  
   THE REALITY OF SIN.
   A. David knew he had sinned against God. Psalm 51:3-4
      1. David had also sinned against his other wives, Bathsheba,
         Uriah, and his own body. 1 Cor. 6:18
      2. But all sin is ultimately against God; this is why it is    
         wrong.
         a. David's sin was against God; he had transgressed His
            law. The law said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery,"
            "Thou shalt not kill."
   B. Men today are reluctant to admit the reality of sin.
      1. This is clearly seen today in the so-called "gay-rights
         movement."
         a. Also, many try to affirm that pre-marital sex is all     
            right.
   C. Anytime we violate God's law, we sin. 1 John 3:4
      1. We will be held accountable for our sin, whether we believe
         or acknowledge it or not.
      2. Sin separates us from God. Isa. 59:2
      3. Every sin will receive its wages, which, if not repented of,
         is death. Rom. 6:23; James 1:15

III. In realizing the existence of his sin, DAVID HAD GODLY SORROW   
   WHICH LED TO REPENTANCE.
   A.  David appealed to God's tender mercy. Psalm 51:1-2
      1. It is through such an appeal that forgiveness can be        
         obtained.
      2. God has promised mercy upon all who repent. Psalm 86:5;
         Isa. 55:7; Micah 7:18-19
         a. It comes only to those who fear God. Luke 1:50
         b. We must confess our sins to God. 1 John 1:9
         c. We must possess a contrite heart, as did David, if we
            want forgiveness. Psalm 51:17; Isa. 66:2
   B. David had genuine, godly sorrow.
      1. Godly sorrow produces repentance, and repentance brings
         life. 2 Cor. 7:10; Acts 11:18
      2. Man, short of repentance, is dead in trespasses and sins.
         a. Peter told those Jews on Pentecost - Acts 2:38
         b. To another similar group - Acts 3:19
         c. To Simon the sorcerer - Acts 8:22
      3. The heart that will not repent is an abomination to God.
         a. On the other hand, God has always respected the
            penitent and contrite heart. 

IV. DAVID BROUGHT FORTH FRUITS WORTHY OF REPENTANCE.
   A. Matt. 3:8; Acts 26:20
      1. David repented and went on to be one of the greatest in
         genuine, sincere service to God. Psalm 51:12-13
      2. We need to have genuine, godly sorrow for our sins, and
         with sincere resolution endeavor to the utmost of our power
         to conform to the will of God.
      3. It does not consist in one single act of sorrow, but in     
         doing works meet for repentance, in sincere obedience to the
         law of Christ for the remainder of our lives.
   B. Ironically, David's case is mentioned by some as a case where
      repentance did not demand one to give up another man's wife.
      1. David was guilty of adultery and murder and because of
         these sins he suffered severe consequences.
      2. However, was he guilty of taking the wife of another man
         who was still living? No, David had married her following
         Uriah's death. 2 Sam. 11:27
      3. Remember, too, David, was not an alien sinner. He was in
         covenant relationship with God.
         a. How could the example of David, who was a child of
            God, establish the right for the alien sinners who are in
            adulterous marriages to remain together after baptism?
         b. It seems to me that their argument, if it proved anything
            at all, would establish that the child of God may keep
            another man's wife after repentance.
      4. It is true that God allowed David to keep Bathsheba, but
         God was kind and merciful to David. He could have killed
         both David and Bathsheba.

V. DAVID WAS FORGIVEN. Psalm 32:5
   A. God will readily receive and forgive those who come to him with
      a contrite heart.
      1. Luke 15:20-24 - The father represents God in this parable.
      2. God is always willing and ready to forgive. Psalm 86:5
      3. The world still remains today because God is giving man
         time to repent. 2 Pet. 3:9
   B. The problem is never with God, but with man - God is faithful
      and just to forgive. 1 John 1:9
      1. Man has a tremendous problem in coming to repentance.
         a. Someone has said that of all the commands in the Bible,
            the hardest one to obey is repentance.
   C. When we truly repent, times of refreshing shall come from the
      presence of the Lord.

Concl.
   A. If you are not a Christian; first, repent and obey God. Acts   
      3:19
   B. Thereafter, as with all Christians, we must try our best not to
      sin. 
      1. But when we fall, let us come in full dependence on the
         mercy of God.
   C. When Nathan the prophet came to David and said, "Thou art the
      man," David admitted his sin and appealed to God for mercy.
   D. When we sin, let us do the same. In the words of the Publican -
      Luke 18:13.
      1. We know that when we humble ourselves before God, He is
         faithful and just to forgive our sin. Prov. 28:13

Chart:
David's Repentance
                        
He didn't try to shift the blame.

He acknowledged the reality of sin.

He had godly sorrow which led to repentance.

He brought forth fruits worthy of repentance.

He was forgiven.