Bearing The Consequences Of Our Sin

2 Samuel 12:10-15

The Story

When sin was forgiven and cleansed, it didn't mean that it was over.

David still had to pay dearly for his sin.

Because David had wanted Uriah to be killed with violence, violence would never depart from his family. David would later lose three of his sons in a violent manner: Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28-29), Absalom (2 Samuel 18:14-15) and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:24-25).

Because David had treated with contempt the wife of Uriah, his own son, Absalom, would later go in to his father's wives in public view (2 Samuel 16:21-22).

Sins affected everyone and everything, and not just David alone!

What David had done in secret, the Lord would reveal it in the open for everyone to see.

And as part of David's punishment, God had allowed the baby born of David's adulterous affair to become sick and die. How it must have broken his heart watching his son died!

David paid a terrible price for his sin!

Lessons

When sin is forgiven and cleansed, it doesn't mean that it is over.

We still have to pay dearly for our sins.

We may think that what we have done affect no one but ourselves.

We are wrong.

When we sin, it affects everyone and everything.

And what we have done in secret, God will reveal it in the open for everyone to see.

We will pay a terrible price for our sin!

Remember...

God will forgive our sins if we repent.

And God will wash away all our sins.

But we still have to bear the consequences of our sins.

And there will be scars, to remind us of our sins.

Remember, it dishonors the name of God among the unbelievers when we sin.

And we can expect nothing less than His chastisement.

When Sin Is Confessed

2 Samuel 12:13

The Story

When David heard the charges, his mind suddenly became clear. For the first time in many months, he could see the situation as it was. And he made a full and honest confession.

As soon as David confessed, he was told that his sins had been forgiven and he would not be put to death as the Law demanded (Lev. 20:10). God had taken David's sins away from him. Instead of justice, David had received mercy and grace. He had been forgiven and pardoned!

The time of alienation from God was over. David was restored.

Lessons

This is how God always operates. When sin is confessed openly and honestly, it is forgiven by the Lord God. And God removed its stain from our lives (1 John 1:9).

Remember...

We must deal with our sins in open and honest confession. Only then will God forgive and restore us.

When Sin Is Exposed

2 Samuel 12:1-9

The Story

God confronted David. He did it at the right time to secure the right response.

God sent Nathan the Prophet, a man David respected, to confront his sin.

Nathan came. He talked about a rich man with many sheep who took the only lamb belonging to a poor neighbor to feed a passer-by.

After David heard it, he was furious. He demanded the rich man to restore the poor man four-fold, and he ordered the rich man to be executed!

Then David heard Nathan said, "You are the man."

David was exposed. He was found out! It's time to pay!

And David was exposed by a dear friend! Oh! How David broke Nathan's heart!

David was reminded of all that the Lord had done for him, how He had chosen him, saved him, blessed him and elevated him to the throne of Israel.

And David was made to see how he had repaid God for his grace and kindness with his evil deeds!

How could you, David? How could you to this?

How could you break God's heart?

Lessons

God is working behind the scene. He will confront us for our sins when the time is ripe!

Sin can never be successfully hidden away forever. God will confront the hidden sin and expose it to the light!

It will be a very shocking day when that happens.

And that is why we need to repent immediately after we sin!

It will be a very sad day when it is our loved one who exposes us!

How we must have broken his or her heart!

It will be a very shameful day when we are made to see how we have repaid our gracious God with evil deeds!

How it must have broken God's heart!

Remember...

There is the right time for everything.

And sin can never be successfully hidden forever.

When sin is exposed, it hurts everyone.

It hurts us.

It hurts our loved ones.

And it hurts the Lord God!

It will be a shocking day.

It will be a sad day.

And it will be a shameful day.

Oh! What have I done?

How can I do this? How can I?

Silent Moment Kills

2 Samuel 11:27

The Story

2 Samuel 11 talks about the darkest moment in king David's life.

He had fallen into deep and disgusting sin.

He had committed adultery with a married woman.

He had got her pregnant.

He had her husband put to death.

But God did not punish him immediately for his sins.

In fact, it was nearly a year later that God exposed him!

But those 12 months were a terrible time for king David.

It was a silence moment of sin!

The king knew what he had done and so did Bathsheba.

Every time when their eyes met, guilt flashed back and forth between them.

There was no joy, no peace, and no anticipation over the birth of the baby.

It was only pain and guilt between them.

The king knew that his general Joab and some of the servants knew it too.

But worst of all, he knew that God knew!

The king knew that he couldn't hide his sins in silence.

The truth will be revealed!

It was the silent moment of sorrow!

King David wrote Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 during this time.

They were written after he had confessed his sin, been forgiven by God and been restored to fellowship........

....... The months following David's sin with Bathsheba were days of suffering for David.

....... And David was broken by the weight of his sin.

David was suffering under the chastisement of God and he knew it!

Silent moment kills........

Lessons

When we sin against God, we can be sure of His chastisement.

It may not be immediate, but it will come.

Constant guilt, loss of joy and peace, and the sense of God's displeasure will be there for those who walk away from God and refuse to deal with their sins.

Silent moment kills

Remember...

The price for sin is death.

And those silent moments of separation from God because of our hidden sins is a terrible moment!

The Devastating Effects Of Sin

2 Samuel 11: 5-27

The Story

David tried every means to cover his sins.

He tried to get Uriah to sleep with his wife, Bathsheba again.

But Uriah was a man of integrity (2 Samuel 11: 11).

David should have confessed his sins to God and dealt with the consequences.

But David decided to hide his sins.

Sins had led him down the path of deception.

David's deception did not work.

So David devised a plan to remove Uriah altogether.

David wanted to get Uriah killed on the battlefield.

Joab was given the order.

Sin had led him deeper down the path, farther away from God.

Uriah finally died.

David took Bathsheba as his wife.

David did not show any remorse for what he had done.

Sin had led him further down the devastating path.

Lessons

And that is what sinner does!

They will always try to keep their sin covered and hidden.

And that is how sin works!

It will never be satisfied until sinners are totally destroyed.

And that is what sin does!

It sears the conscience until the entire life of the person is devastated.

And it dulls the person's sensitivity to the Lord and His voice.

Remember...

We are no greater than David!

We are as prone to fail as he was.

The giant of our life is within us!

And if we are not careful, it will destroy us totally.

If we have been beaten already, we must be honest with the lord.

We must tell Him the whole truth.

And we must lean upon Him to fight the spiritual battle.

Remember.....

The devastating effects of sin!