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Failure and Restoration
Sin Happens
We will now take a look at David. Like Abraham, David had a special relationship with God. He was the psalmist of Israel and also God's chosen king. In addition to this, he was known as the man after God's own heart. Unlike Abraham, David did not try to fulfill God's promises through his own methods, but rather fulfilled his own sinful desire through the use of his God-given power and authority. To whom much has been given, much will be required and as we shall see in David's case, the cost of his sin was great.
1) Read David's Story in 2 Samuel 11. Verse one provides the background of this episode in David's life. What should David have been doing at this time?
2) Surely David had the liberty to remain at home while entrusting his battles to his generals. He was the king, after all, and had personally led his army many times before. Galatians 5:13 instructs us on the right use of our God-given freedom when it says, "Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (ESV) How did David's misuse of Liberty put him in a position in which he could be tempted?
3) Have you ever used your liberty for selfish ends? What were the results?
4) Describe in your own words the events of verses 2-5.
5) Notice the progression of events. David saw, David inquired, David took her, and he lay with her. At what point do you think David's sin began?
6) Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Record what it says about:
a) Temptation
b) What God does for us in temptationc) Our responsibility in temptation
We all have sins we regret. Some cause us sorrow and others torment us, but the universal impulse among sinners is to hide the sin. Man has tried to cover over his deeds ever since he his fall in the garden of Eden.
7) Read 2 Samuel 11:6-27. How does David try to cover up his sin?
8) David probably thought at this point that he had gotten away with adultery, but he succeeded only in increasing his guilt. God cannot be mocked, nor is he ignorant of our carefully crafted plans to conceal our sin. God was to deal with David and we will see in the next lesson just how he brought David's sin to light. But, before we move on, is there a burdensome sin in your life that you've been concealing?
9) Use phrases from each of the following verses to describe sin's effect on us:
a) Psalm 31:10
b) Psalm 32:2-4
c) Romans 3:23As fallen people, each of us is familiar with the weight of sin. None of us has escaped its damaging effects; but the good news for us in Jesus is that by his wounds we are healed (1 Peter 2:24). More good news comes to us in 1 John 1:9 where we are assured that if we confess our sins, God will forgive and cleanse us. In this we can rejoice.
Copyright © 2007, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Failure and Restoration
Sin Happens
We will now take a look at David. Like Abraham, David had a special relationship with God. He was the psalmist of Israel and also God's chosen king. In addition to this, he was known as the man after God's own heart. Unlike Abraham, David did not try to fulfill God's promises through his own methods, but rather fulfilled his own sinful desire through the use of his God-given power and authority. To whom much has been given, much will be required and as we shall see in David's case, the cost of his sin was great.
1) Read David's Story in 2 Samuel 11. Verse one provides the background of this episode in David's life. What should David have been doing at this time?
2) Surely David had the liberty to remain at home while entrusting his battles to his generals. He was the king, after all, and had personally led his army many times before. Galatians 5:13 instructs us on the right use of our God-given freedom when it says, "Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (ESV) How did David's misuse of Liberty put him in a position in which he could be tempted?
3) Have you ever used your liberty for selfish ends? What were the results?
4) Describe in your own words the events of verses 2-5.
5) Notice the progression of events. David saw, David inquired, David took her, and he lay with her. At what point do you think David's sin began?
6) Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Record what it says about:
a) Temptation
b) What God does for us in temptationc) Our responsibility in temptation
We all have sins we regret. Some cause us sorrow and others torment us, but the universal impulse among sinners is to hide the sin. Man has tried to cover over his deeds ever since he his fall in the garden of Eden.
7) Read 2 Samuel 11:6-27. How does David try to cover up his sin?
8) David probably thought at this point that he had gotten away with adultery, but he succeeded only in increasing his guilt. God cannot be mocked, nor is he ignorant of our carefully crafted plans to conceal our sin. God was to deal with David and we will see in the next lesson just how he brought David's sin to light. But, before we move on, is there a burdensome sin in your life that you've been concealing?
9) Use phrases from each of the following verses to describe sin's effect on us:
a) Psalm 31:10
b) Psalm 32:2-4
c) Romans 3:23As fallen people, each of us is familiar with the weight of sin. None of us has escaped its damaging effects; but the good news for us in Jesus is that by his wounds we are healed (1 Peter 2:24). More good news comes to us in 1 John 1:9 where we are assured that if we confess our sins, God will forgive and cleanse us. In this we can rejoice.
Copyright © 2007, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
