A Study of David- The Anatomy of Sin

By the time we get to 2 Samuel chapter 11 we see that David has conquered most of his enemies (foreign and domestic) and is comfortably reigning from his palace.  He is so comfortable in fact that he sends other leaders off to war while he remains in Jerusalem.  David is not leading (shepherding) as he once did.  Kingship is becoming very comfortable for David.  This brings us to the familiar story of David and Bathsheba.  From the rooftop one night David catches a glimpse of a woman bathing.  He looks long enough to notice that she is beautiful.  He dwells on this to the point of sending servants to gather more information about her.  Despite learning that she is married David sends for her and then commits adultery with her.  So, the pattern is as follows:

1. Sin nature is aroused by something in the environment
2.  Thought processes feed or indulge the sin nature
3. David engages sin nature
4. Sin is committed
5. Cover-up

We will discuss the cover-up more next week along with a discussion of confession.  For now it is important to consider how temptation and sin work in out own lives.  James 1:14-15 that temptation begins with out own evil desires.  This is followed by a process of being enticed by something that "tweaks" or engages our sin nature.  Next comes a phase of enticement in which our freewill is challenged.  At this point we can direct our freewill away from the source of temptation, or we can direct our freewill toward the temptation indulging the sinful nature.  Joseph is a good example of someone who fled temptation when confronted with Potiphar's wife.  We should flee temptations and fight sins.  Instead, David fights (well, not much of a fight) temptation and flees (hides from) his sin.  James then tells us that enticement leads to sin which brings about death.

At each stage of the process we have counter steps that we can take.  First, flee temptations.  If we do not flee and the enticement process begins then we need to direct our freewill away from sin.  2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to, "...take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ."  Romans 8:5 tells us to indulge or feed the Spirit as opposed to indulging the sinful nature (see also John 14:26).  However, if we do engage in sin then we are to confess (James 5:16) and repent.

At any point in the process we can stop the momentum toward sin and direct ourselves toward God.  David chooses not to do so.  We are David.  There are times when we do likewise.  How this ultimately plays out in our lives is the subject of next week's lesson.