DAVID’S FIGHT FOR JOY:
THE SPIRAL OF SIN AND
THE PATH OF GRACE
2 Samuel 11-12
BIG IDEA:
Joy is found in uncovering our sin
and throwing ourselves on the
grace of God.
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
1. Distraction
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
2. Seduction
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
3. Conception
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
4. Action
The Spiral of Sin

James 1:13-15 13 Let no one say when he is
tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God
cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts
no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is
lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
5. Destruction
1. Distraction


James 5:14a But each person is tempted when he is
lured…
2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year, the time
when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and
his servants with him, and all Israel. And they
ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
1. Distraction


James 5:14a But each person is tempted when he is
lured…
2 Samuel 11:1 In the spring of the year, the time
when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and
his servants with him, and all Israel. And they
ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
But David remained at
Jerusalem.
2. Seduction


James 5:14b ...and enticed by his own desire.
2 Samuel 11:2 2 It happened, late one afternoon,
when David arose from his couch and was walking
on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the
roof a woman bathing;
2. Seduction


James 5:14b ...and enticed by his own desire.
2 Samuel 11:2 2 It happened, late one afternoon,
when David arose from his couch and was walking
on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the
roof a woman bathing;
and the woman was very
beautiful.
3. Conception


James 5:15a Then desire when it has conceived…
2 Samuel 11:3-4a 3 And David sent and
inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not
this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?”
3. Conception


James 5:15a Then desire when it has conceived…
2 Samuel 11:3-4a 3 And David sent and
inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not
this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?”
1.
2.
3.
4.
Rationalizing
Minimizing
Blame-shifting
Psychologizing
3. Conception


James 5:15a Then desire when it has conceived…
2 Samuel 11:3-4a 3 And David sent and
inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not
this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife
of Uriah the Hittite?”
So David…
4. Action


James 5:15a …gives birth to sin.
2 Samuel 11:4a 4 So David sent messengers and
took her, and she came to him,
4. Action


James 5:15a …gives birth to sin.
2 Samuel 11:4a 4 So David sent messengers and
took her, and she came to him,
and he lay with her.
4. Action


2 Samuel 11:4b-5 (Now she had been purifying
herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to
her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent
and told David, “I am pregnant.”
Summarize 2 Samuel 11:6-27
4. Action


2 Samuel 11:4b-5 (Now she had been purifying
herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to
her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent
and told David, “I am pregnant.”
Summarize 2 Samuel 11:6-27
But the thing that David had
done displeased the LORD.
5. Destruction


James 5:15b …and sin when it is fully grown brings
forth death.
Psalm 32:3-4 3 For when I kept silent, my bones
wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
5. Destruction


James 5:15b …and sin when it is fully grown brings
forth death.
Psalm 32:3-4 3 For when I kept silent, my bones
wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
Selah
God’s Grace in Rebuke


Nathan’s Parable (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
David’s Anger (2 Samuel 12:5-6)
God’s Grace in Rebuke


Nathan’s Parable (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
David’s Anger (2 Samuel 12:5-6)
You are the
man!
God’s Grace in Rebuke


2 Samuel 12:13a 13 David said to Nathan, “I have
sinned against the LORD.”
2 Samuel 13b And Nathan said to David, “The
LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
God’s Grace in Rebuke


2 Samuel 12:13a 13 David said to Nathan, “I have
sinned against the LORD.”
2 Samuel 13b And Nathan said to David, “The
LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his
transgressions will not prosper, but he who
confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
The Path of Grace
1.
2.
3.
Boldly Ask
Humbly Confess
Humbly Repent
1. Boldy Ask

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
1. Boldy Ask

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
1. Boldy Ask

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
1. Boldy Ask
Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me2:13-14
Colossians
13 Andfrom
you, my
whoiniquity,
were dead in
thoroughly
your and
trespasses
and
thefrom
uncircumcision
cleanse
me
my sin! of your flesh,

God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all
our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that
stood against us with its legal demands. This he set
aside, nailing it to the cross.
2. Humbly Confess

Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
2. Humbly Confess

Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6He
takes
full
responsibility.
Behold,
you delight
in truth
in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
2. Humbly Confess

Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold,
Hisyousin
isinagainst
God.
delight
truth in the inward
being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
2. Humbly Confess

Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
and
my is
sin isdeeply
ever before depraved.
me.
He
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
2. Humbly Confess
Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
and
my is
sin isdeeply
ever before depraved.
me.
He
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold,
“In
short,
a man
must
beiniquity,
set free from
I was
brought
forth in
sin did
mother
conceivehim
me. do the
theand
sininhe
is, my
which
makes
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
sin he does.” -- George MacDonald
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

2. Humbly Confess

“Evangelical repentance is repentance of sin as sin: not of this
sin nor of that, but of the whole mass. We repent of the sin of
our nature as well as the sin of our practice. We bemoan sin
within us and without us. We repent of sin itself as being an
insult to God. Anything short of this is a mere surface
repentance, and not a repentance which reaches to the bottom
of the mischief. Repentance of the evil act, and not of the evil
heart, is like men pumping water out of a leaky vessel, but
forgetting to stop the leak. Some would dam up the stream,
but leave the fountain still flowing; they would remove the
eruption from the skin, but leave the disease in the flesh.”
-- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
2. Humbly Confess

Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
andHe
my sin
is ever
before me.honest.
is
brutally
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
2. Humbly Confess
Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
andHe
my sin
is ever
before me.honest.
is
brutally
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
5 Behold,
Psalm
32:5
I was brought forth in iniquity,
andand
I didin not
cover
iniquity;
I said,
sin did
my my
mother
conceive
me. “I will
6 Behold,my
confess
theinward
LORD,”
and
youtransgressions
delight in truth intothe
being,
youand
forgave
the iniquity
of my
sin.secret
Selahheart.
you teach
me wisdom
in the

2. Humbly Confess
Psalm 51:3-6
3 For I know my transgressions,
andHe
my sin
is ever
before me.honest.
is
brutally
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold,
James
5:15b-16a
Andforth
if heinhas
committed sins,
I was brought
iniquity,
16 Therefore, confess your
he will
forgiven.
andbe
in sin
did my mother
conceive me.
6 Behold,
sins
to one
another
pray
for inward
one being,
you
delight and
in truth
in the
another,
thatteach
you me
may
be healed.
and you
wisdom
in the secret heart.

3. Humbly Repent

Psalm 51:10-11
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
3. Humbly Repent

Psalm 32:8-9
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way
you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without
understanding, which must be curbed with bit
and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
JOY RESTORED!
Psalm 51:12
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
JOY RESTORED!
Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is the one whose transgression is
forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom
the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
JOY RESTORED!
Psalm 32:11
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
BIG IDEA:
Joy is found in uncovering our sin
and throwing ourselves on the
grace of God.