THE PROGRESSION OF SIN DAVID AND BATHSHEBA HOW SIN LEADS TO MORE SIN As we have mentioned before, the Devil is good at his job. He can take things that are wicked and destructive and make them look appealing. He is able to convince men to trade eternal blessings for a moments pleasure in this life. He is able to convince men there is such a thing as a small sin. Once men have involved themselves in this small sin then Satan is able to turn that one sin into many, many more. 1
This progression of sin (one sin leading to another) is exactly what happened to one of the greatest characters in the Bible. King David At this time, David is firmly established as the King over all Israel. He has had many victories over his enemies by the hand of God. Everything seems to be going his way. How many times when things seem to be going good have men let down their guard and become ensnared by sin. 2Sa 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. 2 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. 3 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?" 2
It seems to me that it was the custom of the King to go out to battle with his army. For whatever reason David decides not to go with them this time. Most of the houses of this time period and in this area were built with flat roofs These were used as areas for people to go and enjoy the cool part of the day. David, while his army is engaged in battle is strolling around his roof taking it easy. While there he happens to see (I believe by accident) Bathsheba bathing nearby. At this point David should have immediately turned around and gone back inside and forgotten about what he had seen. Instead David covets Bathsheba his neighbors wife. We know this by his actions. Instead of putting her out of his mind, he begins to ask about her. They tell him her name is Bathsheba and that she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite. 3
You would think after finding out she was another man s wife that a God fearing man like David would not allow this to go any further. Sadly that s not the case. Lets see how this one sin of coveting leads to more sin. 2Sa 11:4 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. 5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child." David s covetousness has led to adultery. He has now broken two of the Ten Commandments. Ex 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery. Ex 20:17 you shall not covet your neighbor's wife To compound the problems of David s sin, he is informed by Bathsheba that she is pregnant. This was a problem because her husband Uriah was away at war so everyone would know the child was not his. 4
So, does David finally admit his sin at this point and try to come clean about the whole matter? No, instead he gets involved in even more sin. 2Sa 11:6 Then David sent to Joab, saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. David brings Uriah home to Jerusalem under the pretense of asking him how the battle is going. 2Sa 11:8 And David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah departed from the king's house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. 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 So when they told David, saying, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?" 5
David s plan was to bring Uriah back to Jerusalem hoping that he would sleep with his wife Bathsheba and then Uriah would think the child she was carrying was his own. Uriah, however was a man of wonderful character. Instead of going home to his own bed and his own wife, Uriah sleeps at the door of the kings house with the kings servants. This is certainly not what David was hoping for. So, he questions Uriah about why he did not go home. Uriah s answer tells us a lot about this good man. 2Sa 11:11 And Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing. My friends and fellow soldiers and the Ark of the Covenant are living in tents right now and engaged in battle. How can I go home and take it easy knowing what they are going thru. 6
David could have learned a few things from Uriah. If David would have had the attitude of Uriah then he would have gone to battle with his men and not found himself on the roof of his house taking it easy when he first saw Bathshebah. Surely the attitude of this good man is going to cause David to do what is right. Wrong! 2Sa 11:12 Then David said to Uriah, "Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart." So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 2Sa 11:13 Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. David goes so far as to get Uriah drunk but he still would not go home and sleep with his wife. It is at this point that David does the unthinkable. He gives the commander of his army (Joab) the command to murder Uriah. 7
2Sa 11:14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, "Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die." 16 So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. 17 Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also. Its almost inconceivable a man like David could sink so low. It all seemed to start so small. Coveting Adultery Attempts at being deceitful Murder If sin can take hold and progress in the life of a man like David then certainly it could do the same to us. The writer of Psalms 1 tells us the man who can avoid this progression of sin is blessed. 8
Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Happy is the man who does not walk thru, stand in or sit in sin. Walking: We are just checking sin out. Standing: No longer are we just checking it out but we have become accustomed to it and are spending more time involved in it. Sitting: sin has become our life and we are trying to get others involved in it as well. Alcohol and other drugs are like this. They start out as just one drink or just one joint or just one hit of Meth. Many times these have led people on a downward spiral they never recover from physically not to mention what it does to their soul. The best defense against the progression of sin in our life is to never let it get started! We need to heed the advice given by the Apostle Paul. 9
1Co 6:18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1Co 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Conclusion 2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. When we are tempted to sin we need to get away from the temptation immediately. Look at all the problems that could have been avoided if David would have done that when he first saw Bathsheba. Sin is nothing to be played with! Don t forget the Devil is good at his job and he is trying to deceive us into thinking that sin really isn t that bad. 10
Conclusion James tells us the truth about sin. Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 11