The Story 2024

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March 24, 2024
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

2 Samuel 11:1 (NIV)
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army … . But David remained in Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 11:27b (NIV)
But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.

2 Samuel 12:1a (NIV)
The Lord sent Nathan to David.

2 Samuel 12:7-10 (NIV)
“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you as king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul … . I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?

“‘You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own … . Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’”

2 Samuel 12:13a (NIV)
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Psalm 51:1-4, 10-12 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

(vs. 10) Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

2 Samuel 12:13b (NIV)
“The Lord has taken away your sin.”

Psalm 32:1-5, 7 (NIV)
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

(vs. 7) You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Takeaways from David’s Takedown …

• His takedown happens on the heels of success.

1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV)
“… man after his [God’s] own heart.”

• His takedown happens when he’s not where he’s supposed to be.

2 Samuel 11:1 (NIV)
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and whole Israelite army. … But David remained in Jerusalem.

• His takedown happens when he’s got time on his hands.

Takeaways from David’s Restoration …

• At the heart of our problem with sin is the problem of our heart.

Mark 7:21-23 (NIV)
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from the inside … .”

• We must be careful not to equate the forgiveness of God with the removal of all earthly consequences of our sin.

• Because of God’s grace, there can be life beyond the earthly consequences of our sin.

Matthew 21:9 (NIV)
… “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Create in me a pure heart, O God … .