Look at Israel, unbelieving at the Red Sea, murmuring in the wilderness, setting up the idolatrous calf at Sinai. Look at the course of Christendom as outlined in Revelation 2 and 3, beginning by leaving her first love, ending by becoming so mixed up with the world that Christ threatened to spew her out of His mouth. Thus it was with David, from lazing on his bed to allowing his eyes to wander, from gazing on Bathsheba to committing adultery with her, from adultery to murder, and then sinking into such spiritual deadness that for a whole year he remained impenitent, till an expressed messenger from God was needed to arouse him from his torpor. and the woman conceived, and sent unto David, and said, I am with child. 2 Samuel 11 verse 5 Sooner or later the man or the woman who deliberately defies God and tramples his laws underfoot finds from painful experience that the way of transgressors is hard. Proverbs 13 verse 15 It is true that the final punishment of the wicked is in the next world, and it is true that for years some daring rebels appear to mock God with impunity. Nevertheless, His government is such that even in this life they are usually made to reap as they have sown. The pleasures of sin are but for a season. Hebrews 11 verse 25 and a very brief one at that. Nevertheless, at the last, it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an ant. Proverbs 23 verse 32. Make no mistake on that point, dear hearer. Be sure your sins will find you out. Numbers 32 verse 23. It did so with David and Bathsheba. For now the day of reckoning had to be faced. The penalty for adultery was death. And a man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and adulteress, shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20 verse 10. Bathsheba now had good cause to fear the righteous wrath of her husband and the enforcing of the dread sentence of the law. David, too, was faced with serious trouble. The one with whom he had had illicit intercourse was pregnant, and her own husband had been away from home for some time. The hidden works of darkness must soon be forced into the light For when Uriah returned, the unfaithfulness of his wife would be discovered. This would give him the right to have her stoned. And though David, by virtue of his high position as king, might escape a similar fate, yet it was likely that his guilt would be proclaimed abroad and a general revolt be stirred up against him. But sad as was the predicament in which David now found himself, still sadder was the measures he resorted to in seeking to extricate himself. But before taking up the doleful details in the inspired narrative, let us first seek to obtain a general idea of what follows. asking the Herod to go over 2 Samuel 11 verses 6 to 21, here continuing with our comments. There was no thirsting for Uriah's blood on the part of David. It was only after all his carnal efforts had failed to use Uriah in covering his own sin that the king resorted to extreme measures. Another before us has pointed out the awful parallel which he obtains between David and Pilate. The Roman governor thirsted not for the blood of the Savior, rather did he resort to one expedient after another so as to preserve his life, and only after those had failed did he give his official sanction to the crucifying of the Lord Jesus. Alas, that the sweet psalmist of Israel should here find himself in the same class with Pilate. But the flesh and the believer is no different from the flesh and the unbeliever, and when allowed its way, it issues in the same works in both. But the analogy between David and Pilate is even closer. What was it that caused David to sacrifice Uriah in order to shield himself? It was his love of the world, his determination to preserve his place and reputation among men at all costs. Love of his fair name and the world resolved that under no circumstances would he be branded as an adulterer. So whatever stood in the way must be removed. He contrived various expedients to preserve his character, but these were baffled. So just as the lust of the eye led him to adultery with Bathsheba, now the pride of life goaded him to the murder of her husband. And was it not the same with Pilate? He had no murderous designs against Christ, but he put his own credit in the eyes of men before everything else. He was Caesar's friend, the world's friend, and rather than risk any breach in that friendship, Jesus must die. And David sent to Joab saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite, And Joab sent Uriah to David. It was not unto the Lord that David now turned. He seems not to have been in his thoughts at all. Nor is he, when sin is gained, the ascendancy over the same. Alas, we are so slow, so reluctant to put things right with God. by sincere repentance and humble confession when we have displeased and dishonored him. No, David was far more anxious to conceal his crime and escape the temporal consequences of it than he was to seek the forgiveness of the Lord his God. This too is recorded for our instruction. It is written, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper and there is no exception to that rule. Oh, that divine grace would cause each of us to lay it to heart and act upon it. Only God knows how many of His own people are now under His chastening rod, are leaned in their souls and joyless in their hearts because of failure at this very point. Refusal to put things right with God and our fellows by confessing our sins to the one and, so far as lies in our power, making restitution to the other, gives Satan a great advantage over us. A guilty conscience estranges the heart from God so that it is no longer able to count upon His protection. The spirit is grieved and withholds His grace. so that the understanding is unable to see things in his light. The soul is then in such a state that Satan's lies are acceptable to it, and then the whole course of conduct is more or less regulated by him. Carnal scheming takes the place of seeking wisdom from on high. Stealth and trickery supplant openness and honesty. and self-interests absorb all the energies instead of seeking the glory of God and the good of others. This comes out very plainly in the deplorable sequel here. All of David's actions now show that he was actuated by Satan rather than dominated by the Holy Spirit. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered. Verse 7. Having been summoned back from the scene of fighting, Uriah was given an audience with David under the pretense of supplying his royal master with an accurate account of how the hostilities were proceeding. In reality, those inquiries of the king were merely a blind to cover his real desire in having sent for Bathsheba's husband. Seemingly, David wished to convey to Uriah the impression that he had more confidence in his word concerning the progress of the war than that of anyone else in Israel. But it is quite clear from what follows that David had called Uriah home for a very different purpose. How little we know the motives of those who ask us questions, and how it behooves us to heed that exhortation, Put not your confidence in princes. Psalm 146 verse 3. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house and wash thy feet. This makes clear the secret design of the king in summoning Uriah to Jerusalem. David was determined to spare himself the shame of its becoming known that he was guilty of adultery with Bathsheba and the only way in which that could be avoided was by getting her husband back to spend a night or two at home so that the child might be fathered on him And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king, verse 8. David was anxious that the one whom he designed to act as a cloak for his own sin should feel free to enjoy to the full the brief furlough now granted him. Again we say how ignorant we often are of the subtle designs of some who may express goodwill toward us by their presence. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 9 How often the best-laid schemes of men meet with disappointment. It was so with Abraham's attempt in getting Sarah to pose as his sister. It was so with Jonah's efforts to avoid preaching to the Ninevites. It was so here. David was balked. He had failed to estimate aright the stirring qualities of the man he was dealing with. Uriah was not the one to give way to self-indulgence while his brethren were enduring the hardships of a military campaign, and should not this speak loudly to our hearts? Are the days in which we are living such that Christians are justified in seeking ease and fleshly gratification? And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? Why then didst thou not go down into thine house? Instead of commending Uriah for his noble and selfishness, the king half reproved him. But David could not approve his conduct without condemning his own. Ah, my hero, they who criticize those who live as strangers and pilgrims in this scene, and they are few in number in this degenerate generation, calling them strict, straight-laced, extremists, puritanic, do but give themselves away. They who practice self-denial are thorns in the sides of those who wish to make the most of both worlds by pandering to their carnal desires. And Uriah said unto David, The ark and Judah abide in tents And my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As thou livest and thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. Verse 11. What a rebuke was this The Lord and His people in the open fields, engaging the foes of Israel. David at home in his palace, enjoying his ease and indulging the desires of nature. How those noble words of Uriah should have melted David's heart! How they should have smitten his conscience for having yielded so vilely to his sinful passions and for so grievously wronging in his absence such a loyal subject. But alas, where the heart is no longer concerned for God's glory, it is incapable of receiving correction or rebuke from a fellow creature. David was filled with pride of reputation and the fear of man, and was determined to make Uriah serve for him as a screen from the public eye. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here today also, and tomorrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow. Verse 12. When the heart is fully set upon doing evil, it refuses to be daunted by difficulties. If one method of obtaining the coveted inn fails, it will try another. Alas that the same persistent determination does not characterize us when we are seeking that which is good. How easily we are discouraged then. Patience is a virtue, but it is prostituted to a base end when used in an evil course. Thus it was now. David refused to admit defeat and hoped that by keeping Uriah in Jerusalem a little longer, his base desire might be realized. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him, and he made him drunk. Verse 13. To what awful lengths can sin carry a saint once he enters upon the downward path? The plan which David now resorted to was horrible indeed, deliberately endeavouring to make the faithful Uriah break his vow in verse 11. How sad to now see David, the toter of Uriah, unto drunkenness, hoping that while his blood was heated he would go home to his wife. But again he failed, and at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. Verse 13. How this baffling of his plans should have aroused David's sleeping conscience, for manifestly God's providences were working against him. Worse was yet to follow. This we must leave for the next chapter. Chapter 53 His Terrible Sin Continued 2 Samuel 11 David's fearful fall into committing adultery with Bathsheba was now followed by a crime yet more odious. His unlawful child, soon to be born, He had sought to father upon Uriah, but his efforts had failed. A desperate situation now confronted him. He knew that if Uriah lived, he must discover his wife's unfaithfulness, and this the king was determined to prevent at all costs. Even though it meant adding sin to sin and sinking more deeply into the mire of evil, David must preserve his reputation before men. Here again we see the likeness between him and Pilate. Each sought to preserve innocent blood and the world, a position of honor in it, for himself at the same time and surrender the former for the latter when they could not both be retained. The pride of life was so strong that to maintain it, the death of another was not scruple than. Once a man, even though he be a believer, disregards the claims of God, he is very liable to ignore the claims of human friendship. It was so in the sad case here before us. David now shrank not from going to any length First, he had tempted Uriah to break his vow, 2 Samuel 11 verse 11. Second, he had endeavored to make him drunk, 11 verse 13. And now he deliberately plotted the death of his devoted subject. He had rather that innocent blood be shed and his whole army be threatened with defeat. than that his own good name should be made a scandal. See to what incredible lengths sin will urge even a child of God once he yields to its clamorings. Adultery, now occasioned murder. O my hear, what very real need there is for begging God to enable you to pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. 1 Peter 1 verse 17. Thomas Scott declared, When a man has so far given place to the devil as not only to commit scandalous sins, but to use disingenuous and base means of concealing them, and with sure prospect of having the whole exposed to public view, what would prevent his being pushed forward by the same influence and from the same motives to treachery, malice, and murder, till crimes are multiplied and magnified beyond computation, and till every nobler consideration is extinguished." Thus it was here. No matter what happened, David was resolved to maintain his own reputation. Sure proof was this that, at the time, he was completely dominated by Satan. As is shown by those words, lest being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 1 Timothy 3 verse 6 How we need to pray that God would mercifully hide pride from us. Job 33 verse 17. Further proof that David was then thoroughly in the toils of Satan may be seen in the subtle and vile tactics which he now resorted to. Thoroughly determined to cover his awful sin of adultery by committing still greater wickedness he resolved to have poor Uriah put out of the way. As Matthew Henry said, that innocent, valiant and gallant man who was ready to die for his prince's honor must die by his prince's hand. Yes, but not directly. David was too cunning for that and too anxious to preserve his own good name before men. He would not kill Uriah by his own hand, nor even did his servants assassinate him, for his reputation had been destroyed by such a step. He therefore resorted to a more serpentine measure, which, though it concealed his own hand, was nonetheless heinous. The bravery of Uriah and his zeal for this country suggested to the king the method of dispatching him. And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him that he may be smitten and die. 2 Samuel 11 verses 14 and 15. With cold-blooded deliberation, David penned a note to the commander of his army, commanding him to station his faithful soldier in the place where he would be the most exposed to the assaults of the foe, and then leave him to his cruel fate. The king's letter decreeing his death was carried by Uriah himself and delivered to The general did as his master had bidden, and Uriah was slain. David's abominable plan succeeded, and he whose accusations he so much feared now lay silent in death, committed to an honorable grave, while his murderer's honor was sullied as long as this world lasts. This terrible sin of David's was more laid to his charge by God than any other he committed, not only because of its gravity and because it has given occasion to so many of his enemies to blaspheme, but also because it was more a deliberate and premeditated crime than an involuntary infirmity acting suddenly How many of his failures are left on record! His lie to Abimelech, 1 Samuel 21 verse 2, His dissimulation before the king of Gath, 1 Samuel 21 verse 12, His rash vow to destroy Nabal, 1 Samuel 25 verse 33, His unbelieving, I shall one day perish at the hand of Saul, 1 Samuel 27 1 His injustice in the matter of Mephibosheth and Ziba. 2 Samuel 16 verse 4 His indulgence of Absalom, his numbering of the people. 2 Samuel 24 Yet after his death God said, David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 1 Kings 15 verse 5 The immediate sequel is as sad and awful as what has just been before us. When he received the tidings that his vile plot had succeeded, David callously said to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another. Verse 25 There was no compunction that a loyal supporter had been cruelly murdered, no horror of heart and his own guilt in connection therewith, no grief that others beside Uriah had been sacrificed for his crime. Instead, he pretended that it was but the fortunes of war and to be taken stoically. Disregarding the massacre of his soldiers, David complimented Joab on the execution of his abominable order, and bad the messenger returned, and encouraged thou him. And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. Verse 26 What a vile mockery! Only God knows how often the outward mourning over the departure is but a hypocritical veil to cover satisfaction of heart for being rid of their presence. Even where that be not the case, the speedy remarriage of weeping widows and widowers indicates how shallow was their grief. And when the morning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. David had pleased himself, but he had grievously displeased the Lord. Matthew Henry said, let none therefore encourage themselves in sin by the example of David, for if they sin as he did, they will fall under the displeasure of God as he did." Samuel E. Pierce asks, Can a person who has committed such atrocious crimes and so long remains impenitent be indeed a child of God, a member of Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and an heir of everlasting glory? Can one spark of divine life exist, unextinguished, in such an ocean of evil? Were we left to our own unaided judgment to make reply, most probably, every last one of us would promptly answer, such a thing is unthinkable. Yet in the clear light of holy writ it is plain that such things are possible. Later David made it manifest that he was a truly regenerated person by the sincerity and depth of his contrition and confession. Yet let it be said that no man while guilty of such sins and before he genuinely repents of the same, can have any warrantable evidence to conclude that he is a believer. Yet everything points to the contrary. Though grace be not lost in such an awful case, divine consolation and assurance is suspended. But now the question arises Why did God permit David to fall so low and sin so terribly? The first answer must be to display his high and awe-inspiring sovereignty. Here we approach ground which is indeed difficult for us to tread, even with unshodden feet. Nevertheless, it cannot be gainsaid that There is a marvelous and sovereign display of the Lord's grace toward His people in this particular respect, both before their calling and after. Some of the elect are permitted to sin most grievously in their unconverted state, whilst others of them, even in their unregenerate days, are wondrously preserved. Again, Some of the elect, after their conversion, have been divinely allowed to awfully fall into the most horrible impieties, whilst others of them are so preserved as never to sin willfully against their consciences from the first conviction to the very close of their lives. Condensed from Pierce's Exhortation on Hosea 14 verse 1 This is a high mystery, which it would be most impious for us to attempt to pry into. Rather must we bow our heads before it and say, Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight. It is a solemn fact from which there is no getting away, that some sin more before their conversion, and some, especially those saved in early life, sin worse after their conversion. It is also a plain fact that with some saints, God most manifests His restraining grace, and with others, His pardoning grace. Three things are to be steadily borne in mind in connection with the sins of the saints. 1. God never regards sin as a trifle. It is ever that abominable thing which He hates. 2. It is never to be excused or extenuated by us. 3. God's sovereignty therein must be acknowledged. Whatever difficulties it may raise before our minds, let us hold fast the fact that God does as he pleases, and giveth no account of his actions. Job 33 verse 13. A second answer to the question, why did God permit David to fall so fearfully and sin so grievously, may be that we might have set before our eyes the more clearly the awful fact that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Jeremiah 17 verse 9 Unmistakably plain as is the meaning of those words uttered by him who cannot lie, yet how very slow we all are to really receive them at their face value and acknowledge that they accurately describe the natural state of every human heart, that of the man Christ Jesus alone accepted. But God has done more than make this mere statement. He has placed on record in His words illustrations, exemplifications, demonstrations of its verity, notably so in allowing us to see the unspeakable wickedness that still remained in the heart of David. Third, by suffering David to fall and sin as he did, God has graciously given a most solemn warning to believers in middle life and elder Christians also. John Owen writes, Many conquerors have been ruined by their callousness after a victory, and many have been spiritually wounded after great successes against sin. David was so. His great surprisal into sin was after a long profession, manifold experiences of God and watchful keeping himself from his iniquities. And hence, in particular, hath it come to pass that the profession of many hath declined in their old age or riper time. They have given over the work of mortifying sin before their work was at an end. There is no way for us to pursue sin in its unsearchable habitation but by being endless in our pursuit. The command of God gives in Galatians 3 verse 5 is as necessary for them to observe who are toward the end of their race as those who are but at the beginning of it. 4 The fearful fall of David made way for a display of the amazing grace of God in recovering His fallen people. If we are slow to receive what Scripture teaches concerning the depravity of the human heart and the exceeding sinfulness of sin, we are equally slow to really believe what it reveals about the covenant faithfulness of God, the efficacy of Christ's blood to cleanse the foulest stain from those for whom it was shed, and the superabounding grace of Him who is the Father of mercies. Had David never sinned so grievously and sunken so low, he had never known those infinite depths of mercy which there are in the heart of God. Likewise, had his terrible sin, his subsequent broken-hearted confession, and his pardon by God never been placed upon divine record, not a few of God's people throughout the centuries had sunk in abject despair. Fifth, to furnish a fatal stumbling block to blatant rebels. Thomas Scott said, It is certain that thousands, through succeeding generations, have, by this fall of the man after God's own heart, been prejudiced against true religion, hardened in infidelity or emboldened in blasphemy, while others have since taken occasion to commit habitual wickedness under a religious profession, and with presumptuous confidence to the still greater discredit of the gospel. It should, however, be considered that all these have been, previously, either open enemies to true religion or hypocritical pretenders to it, and it is the righteous purpose of God that stumbling blocks should be thrown in the way of such men, that they may stumble and fall and be sneered and taken and perish. It is His holy will thus to detect the secret malignity of their hearts and to make way for the display of His justice in their condemnation. On the other hand, thousands from age to age have by this awful example been rendered more suspicious of themselves, more watchful, more afraid of temptation, more dependent on the Lord, and more fervent in prayer and by means of David's fault have themselves been preserved from falling. " God then had wise and sufficient reasons both for permitting David to sin so heinously and for placing the same upon imperishable record, nor has any opposer or despiser of the truth Any just ground to sneeringly ask, Are those the fruits of grace and faith? We answer, No, they are not. Instead, they are the horrible works of the flesh, the filth which issues from corrupt human nature. How strong must those inclinations be to evil when they at times succeed in overcoming the oppositions of truth and grace dwelling in the heart of an eminent saint of God. And in the light of the context, 2 Samuel 11 verses 1 and 2, how it behooves us to watch against the beginnings of negligence and self-indulgence and keep at the utmost distance from that precipice over which David fell, begging God that it may please Him to deliver us from all forbidden objects. But this incident presents another difficulty to some, namely, how to harmonize it with the declaration made in 1 John 3 verse 15, Ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." It is really surprising that so many have experienced trouble in reconciling this with the case of David. As usual, the difficulty is self-created through ignoring the context. In 1 John 3 verse 11, the apostle takes up the subject of the Christians' love one for another. whereby they make it manifest that they are brethren in Christ. The world, one, loves them not, two, hates them, three, will murder them whenever they dare, as Cain did Abel. But no real Christian has such a hatred in his heart against any brother in Christ, nor had David. Uriah was not an Israelite but an Hittite. 2 Samuel 11 verse 3 and 1 Kings 15 verse 5. In conclusion, let us point out some of the solemn lessons which we may learn from this sad incident. First, beware of the beginnings of sin. Who had imagined that taking his ease when he should have been at the post of duty on the battlefield had led to adultery and ended in murder? Second, see how refusal to put one serious wrong right, preferring concealment to confession, gives Satan a great advantage over us to lead into yet worse evil. Third, learn therefrom that there is no security in years, and that no past communion with God will safeguard us against temptations when we are careless in the present. Four, how fickle is poor human nature! David's heart smote him when he cut off Saul's skirt, yet later he deliberately planned the murder of Uriah. Fifth, mark what fearful lengths pride will go to in order to maintain a reputation before men. Sixth, behold how callous the heart will become once the strivings of consciences are disregarded. Seventh, though we may succeed in escaping the wrath of our fellows, sin always meets with the displeasure of the Lord. Chapter 54 His Conviction 2 Samuel 12 An interval of some month elapsed between what is recorded in 2 Samuel 11 and that which is found at the beginning of chapter 12. During this interval, David was free to enjoy to the full that which he had acquired through his wrongdoing. The one obstacle which lay in the way of the free indulgence of his passion was removed. Bathsheba was now his. Apparently, the king in his palace was secure and immune. So far there had been no intervention of God in judgment, and throughout those months David had remained impenitent for the fearful crimes he had committed. Alas, how dull the conscience of a saint may become! But if David was pleased with the consummation of his vile plans, there was one who was displeased. The eyes of God had marked his evil conduct, and the divine righteousness would not pass it by. This Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books. SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available, free and for sale in audio, video, and printed formats. Our many free resources, as well as our complete mail-order catalog, containing thousands of classic and contemporary Puritan and Reform books, tapes, and videos at great discounts, is on the web at www.swrb.com. We can also be reached by email by phone at 780-450-3730 by fax at 780-468-1096 or by mail at 4710-37A Edmonton, that's E-D-M-O-N-T-O-N Alberta, abbreviated capital A, capital B, Canada, T6L3T5. You may also request a free printed catalog. And remember that John Kelvin, in defending the Reformation's regulative principle of worship, or what is sometimes called the scriptural law of worship, commenting on the words of God, which I commanded them not, neither came into my heart. From his commentary on Jeremiah 731, writes, God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since He condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions than that they are not commanded by God. For when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to His commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the papists, all those fictitious modes of worship in which they absurdly exercise themselves would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying His word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophet's words, then, are very important, when he says that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind, as though he had said that men assume too much wisdom when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew.