2Samuel 12:5-6
The Fourfold Returns
Not very many people will deal with the topic that we are to look at tonight. I
think that is so for several reasons.
One is that it is very unpleasant. Sadly, there is nothing that can be done about
that. Sin and its rewards are always unpleasant. That is one reason why I like
to preach through the Scriptures. It forces us to deal with the unpleasant topics
that we might normally skip over.
A second reason the topic is often avoided is because, to some, it makes God look
unfair. There are several answers to that.
1. One was the point of last week’s message, "It does matter what you do
after you sin." If David had repented immediately after his immorality,
I do not believe we would be looking at what we will have to see in the
weeks to come. But David didn’t. He went deep into sin and stayed there
for months, each day ate away at the mercy God would have shown to Him.
2. Part of what I have said several times plays an important part in this
answer. I have said repeatedly that, "Without justice, there can be
mercy." Mostly, I applied that statement to David. King David understood
that mercy without justice was not mercy at all. It was a license to do
wrong. For that reason, David sometimes executed justice upon those who
had erred.
Now, it is God’s turn. David had deliberately sinned and gone deep into a
wicked path. By his own mouth, he ought to die and what he took should be
restored fourfold. But God showed mercy. David did not die. However, David
will pay fourfold for what he took. His payment will be made through the
lives of his children.
3. And I think part of what God is doing is teaching David some hard lessons.
I gave the illustration last week how parents are not so much to punish
but to use punishment as a means of reminding our children not do wrong
again. That may sound like splitting hairs, but there is a different. I
think God is giving David some reminders through the suffering of his
children that David will never forget.
Last week, I believe that although David was forgiven and continued to walk a
mighty walk with God, he still lost some things that he never got back.
2Sam 12:10 Now therefore THE SWORD SHALL NEVER DEPART FROM THINE HOUSE; because
thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy
wife.
What did David lose?
1. I believe David lost God’s hand of intervention on his family. I really
think that is how God executed the judgment upon David. God just quit
intervening in the lives of his children until four of them had paid
the price of David’s sin.
I know that makes God sound unfair; however, we must remember that God’s
grace and mercy are gifts. What we deserve is death and hell. Our
problem is we get so used to His mercy that when He removes it, we get
angry. In this case, David has no one to blame but himself. His actions
caused God to withdraw His protection.
2. I believe that David also lost the high ground. You may remember that a
few years ago, I taught a series on the home and used David for an
example of a bad father. We will see that David did not correct his
children. I wonder why. Is it because his sin and actions were known to
his children? God said that even His enemies had cause to blaspheme Him
because of what David did. That makes it sound to me like everyone knew
what David had done. If his children knew, it would be hard for David
to correct them, wouldn’t it? Children, our own children, can be quite
harsh on us parents, especially by the time they get to be teenagers.
If they want to do something that is wrong, and they know we did it, you
know what they are going to say. "Well you did it!" It may be that the
reason David was such a bad father was because he lost the high ground.
Parent, if you have been involved in activity that you are ashamed of,
and your children know about it, don’t avoid it. Use it. Now if they
don’t know, don’t tell them. But if they do, use it. Tell them that what
you did was wrong and you wish you hadn’t done it. Tell them that because
of what you did, you will bear the scars of it for the rest of your life.
Tell them that God has forgiven you, but you don’t want them to have to
hurt like you hurt. If they know of your past failures, don’t let it
become the thousand pound canary that no one wants to talk about. Make
sure they understand that sin costs and you are trying to protect them
from that awful price, then trust God to use your lesson to help them.
As David had pronounced a fourfold judgment upon the man in Nathan’s story, so God
carried out a fourfold return upon David’s family.
1. I cannot say that I understand the mind of God for I certainly do not.
2. However, I do see some connection in what happened to David’s children and
in what David did.
3. It is possible that what happened to David’s children was not coincidental
but that each event was a reminder to David, a painful lesson to him, of
his own sins.
Tonight, let’s look at David’s fourfold returns.
I. \\#2Sam 12:15-20\\ The baby died.
A. We are not given much information about the baby.
1. no name, no age, no indication what disease he/she died from
2. All we know is that the baby was stricken because of David’s sin
and, after seven days, died.
B. What must David have thought when this happened?
1. David, like yourselves, probably thought - "But the baby was
innocent!"
2. I suspect that David had several other thoughts.
a. David probably thought that he was responsible for what
happened to that baby.
b. And that baby’s innocence probably reminded David that he
was responsible for another innocent life, Uriah.
(1) You and I have to remember that even the baby owed God
a debt and God was being nothing more than just in
collecting it.
(2) However, Uriah did not owe David anything. David just
killed the innocent for his own pleasure.
C. David did take comfort in one thing.
1. You can see it by his actions.
a. His men were disturbed by David’s behavior.
(1) David had fasted and prayed intensely seven days for the
baby’s healing.
(2) When the baby died, David dressed and ate.
b. His servants had expected that if he had sought so hard for the
child’s healing and not received it, he would be devastated.
c. So they asked what was going on.
2Sam 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast
done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the
child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
2. Here, David revealed a comforting truth.
2Sam 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I
shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
a. David was alluding to having a relationship with his child
after death.
b. This verse hints at the spiritual "safeness" of a child until
he can reach the age of accountability.
(1) This is an "assumed" doctrine, not a defined doctrine.
(2) By assumed I mean that there is no clear teaching about
the age of accountability.
(3) We are "reading" this belief into David’s statement and
doing so provides for a very weak theological position.
(4) However, knowing the mercy of God, I believe in it.
c. Understand, under no circumstances do we say that a child
under the age of accountability is "saved." We say that they
are "safe."
(1) Salvation can only come when sin has been forgiven due to
the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
(2) In the case of a child, our belief is that God doesn’t
impute sin to their account until they come to the place
of understanding right from wrong.
Romans 5:13 …but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
d. Understand also that there is no age to which a child is
guaranteed safety.
(1) Some have come up with the age of 13, mainly because that
is when a Jewish boy is considered a man.
(2) However, there is nothing Scriptural or even practical
about that age (as we see plenty of pre-teens
deliberately participating in wicked behavior).
(3) The best we can hope for us that God will hold our
children safe until they have they understand that what
they are doing is wrong.
(4) My suggestion to parents is start teaching your children
immediately and diligently as if they are accountable
today because if they understand what "no" means, they
probably are.
II. \\#2Sam 13:8-20\\ Tamar was raped by her brother, Amnon.
A. This judgment also inflicted pain upon the innocent.
1. In this situation, the emphasis isn’t on the death of the innocent,
but on the betrayal of the innocent.
2. Tamar should have been safe with her own brother (half-brother),
but he betrayed her twice!
a. Once in raping her.
b. And again by throwing her out. This left her a woman that, in
that culture, no other man would want.
3. Tamar seemed such a godly and pure hearted woman. It is never
right for a woman to be treated so!
4. To think on this betrayal must have pained David’s heart
tremendously, especially as he remembered his betraya of Uriah.
B. But this judgment would also remind David of just how awful
uncontrolled lusts are.
1. Every time David looked at Tamar or Amnon, he would be reminded
that all this happened because two men could not control their
lusts.
2. Yes, Amnon for one, but David was also be reminded that he was the
the other!
C. I imagine that David would see himself in Amnon.
1. Both were men of lusts.
a. Even before the incident with Bathsheba, David demonstrated
his sexual appetites by marrying many women \\#1Chron 3:1-3\\.
(1) Micah - Daughter of King Saul who Saul gave to another.
(2) Abigail - The Carmelitess, former wife of Nabel.
(3) Ahinoam - Married about the same time as Abigail. This
woman will be the mother of Amnon, who will rape Tamar.
(4) Maachah - Daughter of a king and mother of Tamar.
(5) Haggith - Not much is known about her.
(6) Abital - Not much is known about her.
(7) Eglah - Not much is known about her.
(8) Bathsheba
b. And it is obvious that Amnon did not love Tamar. He only
lusted after her.
2Sam 13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from
day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my
brother Absalom’s sister.
(1) Amnon’s actions prove that he did not really love her. He
only lusted after her.
(a) A man who loves a woman will not force her.
2Sam 13:14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than
she, forced her, and lay with her.
(b) A man who loves a woman would not even want to defile
her before God by having relations with her.
(c) And a man who loves a woman would not hate her and
cast her away. \\#2Sam 13:15-17\\
(2) Girls, do not be deceived by the male who pretends he
loves you or even the male who thinks he loves you.
(a) One writer described what happens between a men and
women very well.
(b) He said, "A woman will give sex to get love while a
man will give love to get sex."
(c) That is sad, but often true.
(d) Men and women, keep yourselves pure.
(e) Girls, you be prepared to do whatever is necessary to
keep yourself pure—no matter what.
(f) Boys, if you can’t control yourself, stay away from
girls until you can.
2. Both were men who had come to think of themselves as elite.
a. We remember what happened to Saul and how God took David the
long way to the throne, perhaps with the intent of keeping
David’s pride and arrogancy down. Yet, he got some of it
anyway.
(1) David thought nothing of taking another man’s wife. Why?
Because he was the king and could.
(2) David thought nothing of trying to get Uriah under the
same roof as his now pregnant wife. Why? Because he was
the king and could.
(3) David thought nothing of having Uriah sent to the front
and having him killed. Why? Because he was the king
and could.
(4) David thought nothing of taking Uriah’s widow and
pretending nothing ever happened. Why? Because he was
the king and could.
b. Amnon must have thought he could do what he pleased because he
was the king’s oldest son.
(1) That would have made Amnon the next to rule Israel.
(2) Amnon thought he could do what he wanted because he was
entitled.
(a) Amnon thought he could break God’s laws on incest.
That must have been why he even let him mind dwell
on his sister in this fashion. Why? Because he was
next to be king.
(b) Amnon thought he could break God’s laws on purity.
Why? Because he was next to be king.
(c) Amnon thought he could force his own sister and get
away with it. Why? Because he was next to be king.
(d) Amnon thought that after it was done, he need not
worry with it. Why? Because he was next to the
king.
(3) It makes you wonder if Amnon was that bad of a prince,
what kind of king would he have been?
3. Both were men who could have used someone to set them straight.
a. David had Joab who could have at least tried to stop him.
(1) David had no trouble getting Bathsheba on his own, but he
had to have help to kill Uriah.
(2) David sent instructions to Joab to put Uriah in the heat
of the battle, then abandon him.
(3) Joab could have sent word back challenging David.
(a) Sure, such behavior could have cost Joab his position
and his life.
(b) But a man with a pure heart would have paid that
price.
b. Amnon had his cousin, Jonadab.
(1) Jonadab was David’s nephew, Amnon’s cousin.
(2) Jonadab actually put the idea into Amnon’s head of acting
on his sick fantasy.
2Sam 13:5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself
sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my
sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may
see it, and eat it at her hand.
(a) I don’t know what Jonadab expected to happen.
(b) I hope he didn’t expect Amnon to do what he did, but
it is certain that nothing good was going to come
out of his plan.
(3) What Jonadab should have told Amnon was, "Snap out of,
man! You are the future king of Israel and that is no
way for a king to be thinking!"
(4) But it wasn’t.
(5) Isn’t it strange how the world and the devil always bring
the worst counselors our way when we are thinking about
doing wrong?
(6) I guess we can include our flesh because there is not
doubt that when we are thinking about doing wrong, we
avoid those who would tell us the truth.
(a) I remember one individual who was either engaging in
immorality or else thinking highly in favor of it.
(b) That person told me, "I just don’t feel comfortable
in that church anymore."
(c) If we are intent on doing wrong, we shouldn’t feel
comfortable in church!
(d) If you do feel uncomfortable, it is probably because
you are doing wrong.
These are very unpleasant details to read, especially concerning our hero, David.
We hate it when someone like David, someone who identify with, someone we know we
would have liked or loved, has to endure such heartache. However, it is even
worse when we are the cause of someone else’s grief. Let us purpose in our hearts
to never earn these kinds of returns.
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