The objective of this lesson: To stress the value of a heart that belongs to God.
Self-justification is a horrible flaw! Through it we do things we are convinced we would never do. It is amazing to see what evil we are capable of doing when we reason we are right. In the unwavering conviction that we are correct, we yield to ungodlike thoughts and behavior, fully believing we are justified in the way we act.
One significant reason Christians sin and endure the consequences of sin is this: they fail to have hearts that belong to God. This is not intended to suggest that the only reason Christians suffer sin's consequences is a heartless association with God (rather than a heart relationship with God). It does emphasize that obedience to God must be both internal as well as external.
God rejected King Saul as being the source of a dynasty in Israel because he was a rebellious man whose heart did not belong to God (see 1 Samuel 15:10, 11; 20; 22, 23). When God selected Saul to be Israel's first king, Saul was a humble man who was both handsome and tall (1 Samuel 9:2). When God selected David to be Israel's second king, God stressed the heart rather than the physical appearance (see 1 Samuel 16:1, 7; Luke 16:15; Acts 13:22). The criteria for God's purposes exceeded the criteria of people's desires. For God's purposes, an obedient heart is more important than a royal physical appearance.
The primary contrast between King Saul and King David is this: Saul migrated to a heartless association with God based on a no-heart relationship with God; David maintained a heart relationship with God--repenting when he realized he had failed to maintain that heart relationship with God. A heartless association with God uses self-justification as its basis. A heart relationship with God accepts rightful responsibility by repenting when sin is recognized. Sin is not recognized until self-deception ends.
David demonstrated a courageous obedience many times prior to becoming Israel's king. Twice he spared King Saul's life because his heart belonged to God (see 1 Samuel 24:2-7 and 26:6-12). Perhaps nothing shows the folly of self-justification versus a heart that belongs to God as does David's conversation with Abigail. An insulted David was blinded by rage until Abigail reminded him that he had never killed to avenge himself. When Abigail reminded David of his heart commitment, David stopped being led by his emotions.
David's heart relationship with God is easily seen in David's acts prior to becoming king. When Abigail reminded David of his heart relationship with God, David's emotional rebellion against God's values quickly ended--self-interests disappeared and were replaced with God-interests.
Unfortunately, later, as King of Israel, David had no one to remind him of his heart in the incident with Bathsheba and Uriah. Again, David was led by his emotions (physical desires) rather than his heart relationship with God. He, unfortunately, was surrounded by "yes men" who sought to please the king. Thus he invited Bathsheba to come to him, committed adultery with her, and soon learned that she had conceived as a result of his adulterous act. David immediately acted in self-interest, not in God-interest.
We all need an "Abigail influence" to remind us of our heart relationship with God. Even the godliest person can yield to self-interest. The worst thing that can happen to even the godliest men or women is to be surrounded with "yes people" who encourage self-interest rather than God-interest. Abigail had courage. It takes no courage to be a "yes person."
Bathsheba was a married woman. Her husband, Uriah, was valiantly serving David in David's army. David attempted twice to cover his adultery by having Uriah go to Bathsheba. When David's attempts failed because Uriah proved to be more honorable than David, David had Uriah carry his own death orders to Joab. When Uriah died as a contrived act of war, David quickly took Bathsheba to be his wife.
At times attempts are made to use Bathsheba's actions to excuse David's actions. Most of those attempts make little effort to grasp that culture and the will of a king. Clearly, God held David responsible for his acts. David's desires and self-interest were concerned with David and his reputation. He thought only as a king, not as a man of God.
The incident had passed. David's deed was history--perhaps forgotten since it was "successfully" covered. However, to God, it was not covered. The consequences of the act were in the present and in the future.
God continues to see what we think is hidden. Examine 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Chronicles 28:9, and Luke 16:15.
Two factors are obvious when Nathan told his parable. (1) Injustice could still enrage David. Though he was guilty of unthinkable injustice, the injustices of others infuriated him. How often our flaws seen in others make us angry, unreasonable people! (2) David's evil acts were acts against God, not just acts against Uriah as a husband and soldier. David was responsible for Uriah's death (though he did not kill him)! David took his wife! However, more important than that, David represented God. He had despised God because his acts were evil. God's enemies had reason to rejoice because of David's evil acts!
Contrast David's rage at the man in the parable with his pierced conscience when he realized he was the man. Angry emotion immediately went to responsible confession/ acknowledgment. There was no self-justification in his response, only repentance. It took courage for Nathan to confront the king!
What is the difference in Saul's rebellion against God and David's rebellion against God? (1) Initially, in Saul's rebellion Saul insisted that he did obey God (1 Samuel 15:20, 21). When Saul finally admitted he sinned, he was as concerned about being honored before the elders of Israel as he was about worshipping God (1 Samuel 15:30). (2) David immediately saw and confessed he was a sinner. He immediately understood that his acts offended the Lord, even beyond being offenses against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 12:13).
Stress two things. (1) Saul's insistence he had not sinned versus David's immediate response, "I have sinned." (2) Rebellion against God is more serious than the act of adultery or the act of murder. The rebellion against God was a separate issue. Disgracing God before His enemies is not an insignificant thing! The adultery and murder were the vehicles to express the rebellion. David had a heart problem. David temporarily took possession of his heart (in his self-centeredness) as he forgot to whom his heart belonged. When we knowingly sin, we immediately need to examine our hearts.
David's heart belonged to God. Repentance demanded he accept responsibility for what he did. Instead of justifying what he did, he accepted responsibility for what he did.
When our hearts belong to God, we do not resort to self-justification in a futile attempt to evade responsibility. People whose hearts belong to God repent!
Please notice that having a heart that belongs to God does not demand perfection. It demands the responsibility of repentance. Note the distinction between repentance and self-justification. (1) From Saul, the kingdom was torn (1 Samuel 15:28). For Saul, there would be no lineage who would be Israel's kingly dynasty. God's promise to Abraham would not be fulfilled by his family. The Messiah (Christ) would not come to our world through Saul's descendants. (2) David was forgiven. His sin (not the consequences of his sin) was taken away. By law, David and Bathsheba deserved to die (see Leviticus 20:10; 24:17). David was ready to accept the personal consequences of his sin. That is why Nathan told him he would not die. While violence would not depart from his family, while he would be publicly humiliated, God would fulfill His promise to Abraham through David's descendants. The Messiah would come through David's generations. David's legacy would be a bright spot in Israel's history.
Stress that the emphasis is not on human perfection (all humans, even the godliest, are horribly flawed). The emphasis is on the power of repentance. Contrast King Saul and King David's personal reactions to rebellion. God's response to repentance is radically different from God's response to human self-justification--even when we say we did it for God/worship!
If you are convinced you have God figured out, remember these things. (1) David was allowed to keep Bathsheba as his wife. (2) Bathsheba's son was called Jedidiah by God--meaning "loved by God." (3) That son, better known as Solomon, became Israel's third king.
Never forget the power of repentance because one's heart belongs to God. Do not err by trying to predict the actions of a holy God towards unholy people who repent!
Give your heart to God. Be willing to repent. Remind yourself of repentance's power by reading Luke 15.
No human can be perfect. All humans can repent. God expects us to do what we can do.
For Thought and Discussion
Self-justification is a horrible flaw.
We yield in the unwavering conviction that we are right.
King Saul increasingly rejected personal responsibility for his actions and increasingly resorted to self-justification. King David accepted personal responsibility and repented. King Saul's heart did not belong to God. King David's did.
She reminded David that never had he killed to avenge himself.
He was led by his emotions (physical desires) rather than his heart relationship with God.
Uriah died by a contrived act of war. It looked like an act of war killed him when his death was planned/manipulated by David's orders.
David's acts were not covered to God.
Though David was supposed to represent God, in these matters David despised God.
Emphasize Saul did not repent or confess until he had no choice, and David quickly repented.
It demands the personal responsibility reflected in one's repentance.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 11