2022-03-27: The Life of David — David and Bathsheba

Sermon Audio: David and Bathsheba
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 11:1-27
Duration: 26:04
Size: 17.8 MB

The Life of David
David and Bathsheba
II Samuel 11:1-27

Sandwiched in the middle of these chapters is the shocking account of David’s dreadful sin with Bathsheba.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

I. The Causes of Sin (II Samuel 11:1-4)
We are not told that David was busy with the affairs of the kingdom or that he was busy taking care of the problems of his people. Instead, he was on his couch.

As soon as David heard that she was married, he should have stopped pursuing her.

Sin does not just come upon us. It is not foisted upon us so that there is nothing we can do about it.

II. The Consequences of Sin (II Samuel 11:5)
But a consequence of sin is that more often than we like other people know about it.

III. The Cover-up of Sin (II Samuel 11:6-27a)
Sometimes our desire to cover up our sin by some kind of deception does not work.

IV. The Condemnation of Sin (II Samuel 11:27b)
What David had done was evil in his eyes. David had violated the law of God. David deserved to die. David’s sin condemned him to death.

Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

2022-03-20: The Life of David — David Defeats Ammon and Syria

Sermon Audio: David Defeats Ammon and Syria
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 10:1-19
Duration: 26:43
Size: 18.3 MB

The Life of David
David Defeats Ammon and Syria
II Samuel 10:1-19

In II Samuel 10, David once again extended kindness, that is, hesed or steadfast love, to the son of a friendly neighboring king, who had died.

Like Onada, many people are fighting a lonely battle against the God who is offering reconciliation and peace.

I. Kindness Is Offered (II Samuel 10:1-2)
However, now that Nahash had died, David wanted to extend hesed to Hanun, Nahash’s son, for the hesed that had previously been extended to David by Nahash.

Well, Jesus’ offer of kindness is by far the best offer ever extended to anyone.

II. Kindness Is Rejected (II Samuel 10:3-5)
The rejection of David’s kindness points us again to the rejection of Jesus’ kindness. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

III. Kindness Is Redressed (II Samuel 10:6-19)
David offered kindness. And that offer of kindness was rejected by Hanun. So, David set out to take action.

Joab recognized and affirmed that God was in sovereign control of the outcome.

David’s redressing of his kindness that was rejected teaches us that Jesus will redress any rejection of the kindness that he offers.

Those who have rejected Jesus will know in that moment that all their greatest treasures were nothing compared with him, and they will bitterly regret that decision.

2022-03-13: The Life of David — David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

Sermon Audio: David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 9:1-13
Duration: 20:49
Size: 14.2 MB

The Life of David
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
II Samuel 9:1-13

Our scripture today about Mephibosheth, and particularly about David’s kindness to him.

I. Kindness Is Initiated (II Samuel 9:1-4)
So, David wanted to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan.

That is why he wanted to make sure that he was keeping his covenant promise to Jonathan when he asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

But the good news of the gospel teaches us that David’s Greater Son, Jesus, takes the initiative to bring kindness–God’s steadfast love–to us.

II. Kindness Is Provided (II Samuel 9:5-8)
The lesson for us is that Christians are the recipients of God’s unmerited and gracious kindness.

III. Kindness Is Experienced (II Samuel 9:9-13)
But David initiated kindness toward Mephibosheth, he provided kindness for Mephibosheth, and then Mephibosheth experienced the kindness of David.

You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.