Little Sins (2 Sam. 11:1-5)

Little Sins

(2 Sam. 11:1-5)

In this passage we see the story of David and Bathsheba. It is not a happy story but a tragic series of events. It all starts with David’s “little sin”. The problem with “little sins” is just with one word, “little”. There is no such thing as a little sin, that’s just what we call it to justify ourselves when we do something wrong. When our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died on that cross for our sins, there was no mention of big or little sins. It was for our sins he shed His blood. Our sins, whether they’re big or little, are what separated us from God and condemned us to judgment. Sins are destructive and deadly, whether they are in a sinner’s or a saint’s life. Primarily today, we are going to look at the result of sin in a Christian’s life. We must look at and understand in this sermon the danger of “little sins”. Let’s look at this story of David and Bathsheba and see the results of little sins.

I. Little Sin of David (2 Sam. 11:1-5, “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child.”)

A. He Was in the Wrong Place (v.1) - As we look at our first victim of a “little sin”, we must understand that sometimes it begins with being in the wrong place. Here in the beginning of this chapter (2 Sam. 11) it says that David was in Jerusalem but his army was out to war against Ammon. Verse 1 tells us that it was the time of the year when the kings go out to do battle. So we get the idea that King David should have been there in battle with the army of Israel down in the trenches with his men but he was home just taking it easy instead of what he was suppose to be doing. Because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time there came along some problems. There are places in our lives that we should never wander into because it leads to dangerous things. And with King David we can see that all started with being in the wrong place and an accidental look.

B. He Just Had a Little Look (vv. 2-5) - David couldn’t sleep one night and went out on the palace roof. While looking around at the sky and the surrounding houses and building he sees something. Just a little distance away he accidently sees into a little house and there is a women bathing. It was just a little look and I’m sure that he could have turned away and went back into the palace but he had to take another little look. That second little look turned into a little longer look that turned into a little gazing but it was just a little sin on David’s part. That little sin grew into full blown lust and we can see from the rest of the verses that it leads on to greater sin. There are some men that say “there’s nothing wrong with looking!” but the Word of God begs to differ. In Mt. 5:28 Jesus said this about just looking, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. Entertaining a little sin leads on to more and more sin and there are destructive consequences to them (James 1:15, “when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death”). David finds out who she is (the wife of Uriah, one of his soldiers) and he invites her to the palace and seduces her. From this Bathsheba becomes pregnant with David’s child.

C. He Tries to Cover His Sin (vv.6-17) – This little sin of David seems to have grown into a mess. So like any good Christian he tries to hide his sin (that’s sarcasm). David thinks he can cover it up and come out smelling like rose but it seems like sin has a life of its own. In verses 6-13, we see that King David sent for Uriah (Bathsheba’s husband) from out of the battle. David’s reasoning was that if he brought Uriah home that he could cover up getting Bathsheba pregnant by making it look like Uriah was the father. Things are never as simple as they seem. Uriah was a faithful soldier and would not go home because to him it would be a dishonor to do so while every other soldier was putting their lives on the line. Because Uriah would not go to his house and wife, David sent him back to battle with a message to his General Joab. The message was to Uriah in the forefront of a battle and then retreat back from him so he would be killed and Joab did as David commanded him. Uriah is killed and then in vv.26-27 Bathsheba mourns and after the time of mourning was over David brings her to the palace marries her and she gives birth to their son. David thinks that it’s all covered up nice and neat but any sin that given time to root and grow in a heart of a believer will dealt with by God. God has no intention of letting this sin not be dealt with in David’s life and we see this in 11:27b, “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD”. It’s not over by a long shot.

D. God deals with David’s Sin (2 Sam.12:1-15) – God deals with David and his sin. God used the prophet Nathan to confront and rebuke King David. Nathan comes to David and tells him a story of a rich man and a poor man. That the rich man had many flocks and herds and the poor man had one little lamb that he loved like a child. The rich man had a visitor and instead of him killing a lamb from his great many flocks, he stole and killed the poor man’s little lamb that he loved. King David was incensed at the great injustice and evil of the rich man and declared that this man must die. It is then that Nathan tells David this, “You are the man!” and then begins revealing from God the great sin of David. You see there is nothing hidden from God even if your hiding a multitude of sins from everyone else, God sees it! And God will deal with it if you’re his child. How do I know this, one from experience (nothing like King David) and the best reason I know this is true is because God’s word says so, Heb. 12:5-11, “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens (disciplines), And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” God will deal with sin in the life of a believer in a way that is best for us. Because of what was told to David, he repented in 12:13, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die”. God was going to deal with David very harshly by taking his life but David truly repented and was graciously shown mercy. David should have went to God and let Him deal with his sin but David foolishly tried to deal with it on his own. If sin is not dealt with it will not just affect you but it affects those around you, especially those who you love the most in your life. David was forgiven by God but paid the price of a believer dabbling in sin.

II. The Solution for Little Sins

It only takes entertaining on “little” sin to open the flood gates of sins destructive abilities (“…for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” – Gal. 6:7b). If you ever talk to an addict you can plainly hear how all it took was that first drink, that first toke, or that first pill. Just one little decision to sin can destroy lives and your witness for Christ. My friends before it gets that far we most go humbly and repentantly to our Lord God. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” Confess and repent of your sin to God so it will not gain a foothold in your heart and life. 1 John 1:9 says that if we will “confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

The only way to deal with little sins before they mature and grow into a great destructive power is to nip them in the bud. Let Christ, our sin killer, get them when there young and fresh. Rom 6:12 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts” but bring them all under the subjection of Christ. Let Christ deal with your “little sins”.