By Steve A. Hamilton

Eccl. 1:9-10

 Introduction: History repeats itself.  There is nothing new that hasn’t already been done.  The same is also true concerning sin.  There isn’t a sin that hasn’t been tried.  What has history taught us when others were caught in sin? 

I. Getting entangled in sin can happen to us at any time. 

          A. We might not even see it in our own lives (Heb. 3:12-13).

          B. There is always a danger of sin searing our conscience (1 Tim. 4:1-2).

II. The story of David and Bathsheba is our example of someone being caught in sin.

          A. 2 Sam. 11:1-4

                   1. What caused David to sin (Jas. 1:14-15)?

                   2. David coveted his neighbor’s wife and then committed adultery (Ex. 20: 14, 17).

          B. 2 Sam. 11:5-11

                   1. David is trying to hide his sin.  If Uriah would sleep with his wife then it would appear the baby belongs to him.  David thinks he can sin and get away with it.

                   2. Notice there is no confession of wrong doing and no Godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10).

                   3. This happens when people get caught in sin.  They go to great lengths to hide their sin or deflect attention from it.

          C. 2 Sam. 11:12-13

                   1. David tries to weaken Uriah’s resolve by getting him drunk.

                   2. David is willing to mistreat Uriah to make himself appear righteous but it doesn’t work.  Has that ever happened since?

          D. 2 Sam. 11:14-17

                   1. David resorts to murder to cover his adultery (Ex. 20:13).

                   2. Has anyone else ever resorted to sin to cover a previous sin?

          E. 2 Sam. 11:26-12:7a

                   1. This is how sin can sear a conscience.  David couldn’t see how the story delivered by Nathan had any application to himself.  If David’s conscience could be seared by sin, be assured it can happen to us!

                   2. When we are caught in sin and we are presented scriptures condemning our actions and we do not repent, our conscience is seared! 

          F. 2 Sam. 12:7-14

                   1. It took the Lord’s discipline to get David to confess his sin.  Some people need discipline in order to help them see their sins (2 Thes. 3:6, 14-15; 1 Cor. 5:1-5).

                   2. The Lord gives some pretty severe consequences for David’s sin.  When we are caught in sin, do we think the consequences will be minimal if we don’t repent (Rom. 1:18; 12:19)? 

Conclusion: In this one story we find David violating three of the Ten Commandments.  At first, David never denied the sins he committed he just never acknowledged them.  His guilt caused him to try to cover up his sin first through deceit, then by mistreating another only to resort to murder.  Only after the Lord disciplines David does he finally acknowledge his sins.  But only after great harm has occurred to others and the consequences are irrevocable.

          History should teach us that we do not need to repeat it.  When we sin, we should acknowledge it and repent immediately.  Otherwise, we end up digging for ourselves a big hole that many are unwilling or unable to crawl out.

          Have you been caught in sin? 

Last modified: 05/02/08