David: A Man Of Great Restoration

2 Samuel 12:13-20

(Temple 4-15-12)

Introduction:

A. The last time I preached on David, we studied one of the darkest periods of the Bible where the man of God committed and tried to cover his sin. The Bible says, “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth!”

B. David was a man whose heart panted after God. Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (He loved the Lord with all of his heart and desired to serve Him as long as he lived.)

C. The Severity of God’s Chastening. A tremendous lesson is to be learned here. If you are saved, the Lord will never leave you alone! (So many who profess salvation never experience the chastening hand of God and continue in their sin. No chastening, no salvation! David’s exposure and humbling; the death of his child; the rape of his daughter by a son; the murder of his son by another son; the overthrowing of his kingdom by a son; the death of another son; etc. The sword never left David’s house.)

D. The Greatness of God’s Love. God certainly loved David and the severity of his chastisement showed the greatness of that love. The Lord hates our sin but His love never diminishes or changes. The Lord knew how, when, and where to get David’s attention. God could have let David go and destroyed him but, instead, he chastened a man whom He loved and restored him.

E. Three reasons God sent Nathan:

1. Because of David’s sin. It was a sin of great proportions: adultery and murder!

2. Because of David’s security in sin. He took Bathsheba as soon as her mourning period was over and continued to cover his sin for at least 9-12 months.

3. Because of David’s self-righteousness in judgment. David ordered the person to death who simply took another’s lamb. David took another’s wife and had him killed.

F. It was not the failure that made David great in the eyes of the Lord for all sin is abominable to Him, but it was David’s reaction to that chastening that showed his true character. Men of great Christian character can get out of God’s will, but it takes a man of character to admit, repent, and get “back on the horse” after he has fallen.

G. No matter how great the sin, He is still a forgiving God and is willing not only to cleanse, but to also use the sinful. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

H. There are some amazing statements in 2 Samuel 12 that show such character in David. (It also needs to be noted once again that David’s sin with Bathsheba is not mentioned in the New Testament where God’s commentary on David’s life was that he was a man after God’s own heart. When you get right with the Lord, you are RIGHT with the Lord!)

1. David Was Submissive To The Man Of God When Rebuked – vs. 7-13 I can tell a lot about your spirituality by how well you take rebuke. Many get mad and will not hear it while others rebel against the Lord’s rebuke, but King David submitted to the prophet of God. Over the years, there have been times when I have to reprove and rebuke someone. It was not done because I took pleasure in it, but because it became a necessity! Most who were rebuked left never to return but thank God for a few who got it right. (Those who got right instead of getting mad became blessings to both the church and this pastor.)

2. David Made No Excuse For His Sinfulness – vs. 16 He simply got it right with God. The natural thing to do is to either excuse or justify sin. You will never get right with the Lord without confession, which is agreement with God.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3. David Laid Aside His Pride Before God And Man – vs. 15-18 David fasted and lay on his face before the Lord and his servants. As a king, most men would have had a hard time with the humility that it takes to get right with the Lord but David cared nothing for his position at this point.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

4. David Accepted The Chastening Of The Lord Without Complaint – vs. 16 He knew that what he did was flagrantly wrong and that God, in His righteousness, rewarded him rightly. He took it like the man that he was.

Hebrews 12:11-13 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

5. David Repented Of The Sin With Fasting And Supplication – vs. 16 True repentance is both confession and forsaking. David fell on his face before the Lord for the life of his child.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

6. David Went To The House Of God And Worshipped Instead Of Getting Mad At God – vs. 20 It is certainly embarrassing to have face God’s people and because of this, many will never come back to God’s house. David made confession, fasted and prayed, and then went to God house and worshipped the Lord.

7. David Continue To Serve The Lord – vs. 21-23 Many of God’s children get completely out of both the sanctuary and service of the Lord after such failure. I know of many families that are out of church this morning because they would not get something right and left never to return.

8. David Used His Experience To Teach Others – vs. 24-25 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean one? Our failures can be used by God as well as our victories. Examples of failure and restoration can be used to keep family and friends from falling into the same pitfalls.

Psalms 51:12-13 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.