How the Mighty Have Fallen, Part 2

2 Samuel 11
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor

Big Idea: If you think you are standing firm, be careful lest you fall.

2 Samuel 11
1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going.8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king’s house, and there followed him a present from the king.9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?”11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”12 Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next.13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.”16 And as Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant men.17 And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite also died.18 Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting.19 And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king20 then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”22 So the messenger went and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell.23 The messenger said to David, “The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.24 Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.”25 David said to the messenger, “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him.”26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband.27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

I. David’s Temptation (vv. 1-5)

A. As the war with the Ammonites rages on, David chooses to stay in Jerusalem and let Joab lead the troops. This would prove to be a fateful decision for David, as he is about to be tempted and tested in a way that will permanently alter his life and rule.

B. The choices that led to David’s temptation:

1. He stayed behind (v. 1b; cf. 2 Sam. 5:2; 10:17) – This was not David’s usual practice.
2 Samuel 5:2
2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’”

2 Samuel 10:17
17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.

2. He looked too long (v. 2) – A glance turned into staring, which became a longing, and finally, led to an action.

3. He surrendered to lust (vv. 3-4) – David gave in to his passions and, in so doing, abused his position and authority.

C. David’s fall is a powerful reminder that no one is above temptation. When tempted, though, we can take heart and turn to God for strength and wisdom (cf. 1 Cor. 10:12-13).
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

II. David’s Fall (vv. 4-27)

A. David’s fall is dramatic and has far-reaching consequences. He didn’t just fail his family and the nation of Israel, he failed to please and honor God (v. 27). The one relationship David could always count on was cast aside for self-gratification.

B. We see in David’s fall:

1. Adultery (v. 4; cf. Ex. 20:17).
Exodus 20:17
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

2. Conspiracy to commit murder (v. 15; cf. Ex. 20:13).
Exodus 20:13
13 “You shall not murder.

3. Deceit (vv. 6-13; cf. Ex. 20:16) – The contrast between Uriah’s integrity and David’s scheming is stark here.
Exodus 20:16
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

4. Stubbornness (cf. Eph. 4:17-20) – David’s heart became calloused here because he did not immediately repent.
Ephesians 4:17-20
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!

C. All of us, at one time or another, will face temptation. It is important to prepare ourselves for such challenges through:

1. Accountability (cf. Js. 5:16).
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

2. Regular study (cf. Ps. 119:9-11).
Psalms 119:9-11
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

3. Equipping ourselves (Eph. 6:10-18).
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints