Catastrophic Complacency

2 Sam 11

Why preach a sermon on such a bleak passage?

1. I never want to preach something to you that I don’t find challenging to myself
   1. David’s complacency got him into big trouble
   2. I am often spiritually complacent
   3. I don’t want to fail like David failed
   4. I need you all so much to help me NOT be spiritually complacent

You have heard it said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

• This is really a very profound statement that has been widely accepted and applauded.
  • It’s a quote we have probably all heard even if we don’t remember it.
  • And this story of David seems to be a real example of the corrupting nature of power in a man’s life but the statement power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is not true!
• It’s against the scriptures. The bible teaches that Man is corrupt and power just gives him the opportunity to act corruptly.
• Don’t believe me?
  • God had absolute power and that power never corrupted him,
  • there is a reason we call him Almighty.

• If power corrupted then God would have to be the most vile being in the universe but the opposite is true.
• God is the most merciful, selfless, humble and loving being that the universe has ever or will ever see!
• Your greatest enemy, the greatest opposition you will have to following the Lord whole heartedly is yourself
  • What about the devil? You might ask?
  • I think the devil is a powerful enemy but if he didn’t have this inside man, this traitor that is my flesh he would find no purchase in my life
  • He just has to appeal to my fallen nature and his has an automatic ally
• If you can’t accept that in your flesh you are by nature corrupt then you will become complacent with regards to your sin and it will lead you to moral catastrophe James 1:14-16

King David was one of the greatest men that ever lived

1. Great Character
2. Righteous – A man after God’s own heart Acts 13:22
3. Humble and Loyal
4. A man of profound Faith
5. He had great spiritual gifts such as prophecy
6. Strong and Brave
   1. When he was a teenager maybe even younger he slew lions and bears that came after his father’s flock
   2. He put the king and warriors of Israel to shame when he faced down Goliath with nothing but his faith and sling shot
7. Great Warrior and tactician
8. Merciful
9. Charismatic and handsome
10. Amazing Talent
11. Great poet and singer
12. A great administrator and leader
13. Prominent Position as King
14. Famous
15. Respect of the people
16. And he had the favor of God
17. He was at the zenith of his power and success

• Despite all of this David fell into vile, shameful, treacherous, perverted sin
• If David could fall into sin than we can to

What can we learn from David’s sin?

*A side note narratives like this are a great proof for the validity of the scriptures

– historians have a principle called the principle of embarrassment

– If the account contains exceedingly embarrassing details then the narrative is most likely true

How did David fall into sin? I believe it’s because David grew complacent

Now there are two types of complacency

1. The Complacency that comes from over confidence
2. And the complacency that comes from apathy
   1. What kind of complacency did David have
   2. I believe both

Look at v. 1

• “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.”
• Sin of omission David wasn’t necessarily doing anything wrong but
  • If he had been doing what he was supposed to be doing then he would not have fell
    • [Jas 4:17 NKJV] 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do [it], to him it is sin.
    • Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
  • Everyone was off to fight a war that he was responsible to lead
  • The Ark which the presence of the Lord sat between the cherubim was with Israel out to war
  • David had removed his armor both physically and spiritually
  • He thought he was strong but he was really weak
    • He had had so many victories that he took them for granted
      • There is a term for this that is used by Military Historians it’s called Victory Disease
    • He just assumed that God would keep on blessing him
    • Ps 26 vs. Ps 51
    • Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
    • [1Co 10:11-13 NKJV] 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

• David was complacent concerning the commandments of the Lord (Apathy)
  • [Pro 1:32 NKJV] 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
    • [Deu 17:17-20 NKJV] 17 “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18 “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from [the one] before the priests, the Levites. 19 “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment [to] the right hand or [to] the left, and that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.
    • [2Sa 3:2-5 NKJV] 2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
    • [2Sa 5:13 NKJV] 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
    • [2Sa 12:9 NKJV] 9 ‘Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife [to be] your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
  • Made provision for the flesh
    • DON’T DO THIS!
    • Fire is always a risk to houses but it is even more so if you accidently leave the gas on and it is leaking into the house
  • Cultivated an unfaithful heart sexually
    • Gal 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
    • Samson the strongest man that ever lived, David one the most righteous Men that had ever lived and Solomon the wisest man that ever lived all succumbed to sexually immorality
    • [Pro 4:23 NKJV] 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it [spring] the issues of life.
  • We do this all the time
    • we play around with sins that we fell aren’t a big deal
    • and then they grow to a point where we no longer can control it
      • Jesus said that he who sins is a slave to sin John 8:34

The consequences of David’s Sin

• He tried to cover up the affair in three ways none of which worked
  • He tried to have Uriah sleep with his wife
  • Then he tried to get him drunk so that he would sleep with his wife
  • Then he had him killed
• Anguish of guilt and conviction
  • Ps. 38
• Pro 28:13 NKJV 13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes [them] will have mercy.
• Num 32:23 NKJV 23 “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
• David hid his sin for nearly a year without repenting

• God would have Killed him
  • There is a sin unto death 1 John 5:16
  • Acts 5:1-11
  • 1 Cor 11:28-32 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
• Gave the enemies of the Lord “great occasion to blaspheme” 2 Sam 12:14
• His Family and the Kingdom suffered the consequences of his sin
  • Our sin affects others!

The Christian Life is a life of self-reflection

[Rom 15:4 NKJV] 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
[1Co 10:11-13 NKJV] 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God [is] faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [it].

[Heb 2:1-4 NKJV] 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard [Him], 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

It’s possible to deceive yourself

[Heb 3:13 NKJV] 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

[Jas 1:21-22 NKJV] 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.