Session #22

II Samuel 10-11:1-5
“Principles Of Temptation” • 2.19.08 • Autonomy, Authority And The Man Of God, Session #22
Intro.
- Coming into chapter 10, David continues to display a truly gracious spirit.
- News comes to him that the Ammonites have lost their King. In a kind move, David sends a group of delegates to the ruling family. They are initially received, but then doubt is cast upon David’s intentions.
• II Samuel 10:3-5 : “And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, ‘Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?’ Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, 'Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.’”
- These provocative actions bring war upon the Ammonites. The Ammonites employed the help of the Syrians but to no avail. David was a cagey military man, and the Lord was with him.
• II Samuel 10:18,19 : “Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.”
- David is again successful and he is now in a place of total domination of his enemies.
- But the danger to David is not over and the next challenge will not be a military one.
• II Samuel 11:1,2 : “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.”
- David looked and before you know it, this man of grace falls before our eyes.
• II Samuel 11:4,5 : “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.’”
- One of the most difficult truths that we have to contend with in this life is that grace does not insulate us from falling. If we are to be men under the authority of God, we must consciously remain in that position under the Lord.
- Unfortunately, while the Lord has given us everything in this world that we need for godliness, we are fighting an uphill battle against Satan and our flesh. As a result, we often need a good reminder of the problem of temptation.
- Notice a few principles that present themselves here.

I. Temptations Come After Times Of Victory (10:18,19)
II. Temptations Come When We Are Spiritually Stagnant (11:1)
III. Temptatons Require Our Energy To Continue (11:2-5)

Text

I. Temptations Come After Times Of Victory (10:18,19)

• II Samuel 10:18,19 : “Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.” : David has had unprecedented success in the realm of military conquest. David must have been an incredibly gifted strategist and fighter.
- You can see that his forces were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the technological advancement of the Syrians.
- The Syrians were a powerful foe, who seemed to enjoy mercenary work, often allowing themselves to be contracted out on behalf of David’s enemies.
- Hadadezer had owed the Syrians a favor from back in II Samuel 8, when they had come to his aid. There have been several skirmishes, but it seems that this chapter ended the hostility and David gained a full upper hand in the conflict.
- But it’s something about what goes into a victory that always leads to an emotional letdown after the fact.
- The same thing can be said spiritually. You guys know what it’s like to have a “good day” in the Lord. Your kids learn a good lesson through your actions. Your wife deems you spiritual. Your work mates seem to be interested in Jesus all of a sudden!
- At these times, there is a spiritual high, that lends itself to a letting down of your guard.
- Before you know, the attack comes, from within or without.
- A prime example of what I am talking about comes from the life of Jesus. Jesus is in the desert, at the very beginning of His public ministry, and He has been fasting for 40 days and nights.
- It’s during this time, as it’s coming to an end, that Satan comes to tempt Jesus. As we know, Jesus stands victorious over the devil, but there is an interesting side note that comes about.
• Luke 4:13 : “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”
- Notice that. Satan had lost the battle, but he was not giving up the war.
- David has won a monumental victory and he must feel pretty good. What an opportune time!
• I Peter 5:8,9 : “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
- Perhaps you have won a victory lately. Beware! Your enemy does not take a day off!

II. Temptations Come When We Are Spiritually Stagnant (11:1)

• II Samuel 11:1 : “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.” : The spring time, which is about the same time there in Israel as here in California, was a time that Kings went to battle. Most scholars believe that it was March.
- Perfect weather in Spring and Autumn made for good fighting!
- Kings took the opportunity to advance their kingdom by taking territory and vanquishing enemies who chose not to surrender. This was a benficial thing for Kings to do.
- But it happened this spring that David decided to rest on his laurels. He had done enough.
- “I just need a little “me” time. I’m burnt out on fighting and living out in the trenches. I’ll just sit this one out. Joab, you take it.”
- Joab had a successful campaign, as he was a military man of might himself, but David remained at Jerusalem. These are significant words.
- David remained in a place of idle stand-still, twittling his thumbs, wondering what to do.
- He would soon discover plenty to fill his time with.
- In my years in ministry, I have encountered a few dozen people who are very active in serving the Lord, always at the studies, frequenting every opportunity for fellowship.
- At some time, these same people have come to me and said exactly what David might have said. I’m a little burnt out and I need some “me” time.
- Most of the people that I have encountered with that attitude never came back, and worse, many of them fell into various sins that ended up crippling them spiritually.
- There is a time in your life that is the right time to serve Jesus Christ: Right now, when you are able to draw breath.
- Paul is speaking to the church in Ephesus about walking as children of light in a world that is dark. He makes the allusion that we are to rise and let Christ shine on us.
- He practically sets this out with some very picturesque words.

• Ephesians 5:15-17 : “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

- The word “circumspectly” refers to walking with great care. In this world, we are to always be on our toes. We are to be men who are walking through a mine field.
- Fools walk with no concern for how or where they are walking. The wise make calculated steps forward into the things of God.
- Then Paul tells them that a part of walking wisely is to have a right view of opportunity.
- That is the word used for time, which is not chronos, but kairos, which means a window of opportunity. One could say that this verse says literally, “make the most of every opportunity.”
- David passed on his opportunity to assert his Kingdom personally and he paid for his stagnancy in a great and painful way.
- There may come a time when you are limited by health issues, but in this time, while there is opportunity, we are called by God to run and not grow weary!
- Does this mean that there are not seasons in a believer’s life that are less active than others?
- Yes, this is true, but even in those seasons, the man under the authority of Christ is looking for God to use him, redeeming the time of less activity by readying himself for battle.
- When you are a Christian, these seasons are few and far between, but God does ordain them for His people. That’s the difference. They are times that God ordains. We don’t ordain them.

III. Temptation Require Our Energy To Continue (11:2-5)

• II Samuel 11:2-5 : “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.” : Temptations are viewed by so many Christians as having power in and of themselves. Let me clear that up: Temptations are driven.
- We are the drivers and the car can be stopped at any moment.
- Paul is writing the Corinthian church, explaining to them that the Old Testament, their Bible, had provided several examples of God’s people falling into temptation.
- He writes that their inclusion into the divine record is that we might be warned, lest we fall.
- But then he adds this comforting statement that is important for us as we consider the next part of David’s story.
• I Corinthians 10:13,14 : “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
- In light of this verse, consider with me the downfall of David. It is evening, which would be sunset. Often, this is when one would come out from there house and come up to their roofs.
- The cool evening air was a stark contrast to the heat of the day. As he walked on the roof, unbeknownst to him, there was beautiful woman bathing.
- Common temptation. Every man has faced this moment. You are minding your own business, flipping through channels, driving down freeways, sitting in a coffee shop.
- The “she” pops us, is on the billboard or coming in for her morning latte after a run.
- David has a way of escape. He can avert his eyes and go back into his house, open up his personal Bible scroll and get busy with some serious exegesis! Hey Dave, write a Psalm!
- Instead, he went from seeing to beholding! He examined her curves, and of course, she is never ugly! Satan never throws out the one with the more matronly body!
- Still David can turn, go back into his room, repent from his lust and be done with the episode.
- But seeing turns into beholding, which turns into inquiry. “Who is this woman?”
- The better question is “Who isn’t this woman!?” She is not your wife! In fact, she is another man’s wife. She is another man’s sister, mother, or example. David is seeing his way of escape.
- Even he, who is already guilty of polygamy, cannot extend himself to this woman, because she is married. It is forbidden in God’s law!
• Leviticus 20:10 : “The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.”
- David ignores what he knows is God’s law, simply by beholding, then inquiring about her. Finally, David sent men who took her from her home and brought her to the palace.
- Don’t sob for Bath-Sheba. She came willingly and willingly lay with David.
- David, probably thought like most men, that this was over. He would go back to his royal life, and she would go back to her normal life. But things won’t end that cleanly. They never do.
• II Samuel 11:5 : “And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.’”
- All of this happened because David made it live. He gave it life with every step and and ironically, gave it life way beyond what he expected.
Conclusion
- Let me leave us with these thoughts. Temptations come after a spiritual victory, when you are spiritually stagnant. These are times when you are most vulnerable.
- But make no mistake: You give it life.
• Romans 13:12-14 : “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
- The Lord would offer these instructions for us today. Make a covenant with your eyes not to look at woman lustfully. Recognize doors of escape and then run through them!