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.