Returning to the Front Line 2 SAM 11.1-13 1.

In the whole of the Old Testament literature there is no chapter more tragic or full of solemn and searching warning than this. Desobediencia-decepcion-desastredisciplina. 2. Dios NO PERMITE QUE SUS HIJOS PEQUEN EXITOSAMENTE. 3. In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle : In that part of the world, wars were not normally fought during the winter months because rains and cold weather made travel and campaigning difficult. Fighting resumed in the sprin 4. David sent Joab . . . But David remained at Jerusalem : David should have been out at the battle but he remained behind. In 2 Samuel 10 Joab and the army of the mighty men were preserved against the Syrians and the Ammonites but they did not win a decisive victory. The decisive victory came when David led the battle at the end of 2 Samuel 10. Both through custom and experience God told David, "You need to be at the battle." But David remained at Jerusalem. 5. The principle of Galatians 5:16 rings true: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If David had his attention where God wanted it, he would never put it where God didn't want it. "While Joab is busy in laying siege to Rabbah, Satan is to David, and far sooner prevailed.
6. No fue un apasionado adolescente el que se meti a propsito en este pecado, sino un hombre de Dios que haba llegado a la edad me- diana. Es fcil ver cmo David cay en este pecado: (1) se senta confiado en s mismo, despus de disfrutar victorias y prosperidad; (2) fue desobediente, quedndose en casa cuando debera haber estado en el campo de batalla; (3) estaba ocioso, acostado al atardecer; (4) se dio a la indulgencia, dando libertad a sus deseos cuando debera haber estado autodisciplinndose; y (5) fue descuidado, permitiendo que sus ojos vagaran y se rindieran a los deseos de la carne y los deseos de los ojos (1 Jn 2.16). El soldado cristiano nunca debe descuidar su armadura (Ef 6.10ss).

7. Nevertheless, it is wrong to think that this was the beginning of the chain of events David followed all the way down to adultery and murder. David showed his disregard God's plan for marriage many years before when he took more than one wife (1 Samuel 25:42-43, 2 Samuel 3:2-5). David's practice of adding wives showed a lack of romantic restraint and an indulgence of his passions. This corrupt seed, sown long ago, has grown unchecked long enough and will now begin to bear bitter fruit.
8. David poda haber vencido esta tentacin (porque no es pecado ser tentado) acudiendo a la Palabra de Dios (x 20.14), o al considerar que Betsab era hija de un hombre y esposa de otro (v. 3). Es ms, estaba casada con uno de los soldados ms valientes del ejrcito de David (23.39) y tambin era nieta de Ahitofel, quien ms tarde se revel contra David y tom partido del lado de Absaln (23.34 y caps. 1617). David tena ya muchas esposas y Dios le hubiera dado ms (12.8). Es en extremo malo que la historia de este hombre piadoso qued man- chada para siempre por la cuestin de Uras heteo (1 R 15.5). Por supuesto, debemos admitir que la mujer particip de la culpa, pero David, siendo el rey, de seguro tiene ms culpa.

9. As I think of what happened, of this I am sure, that it did not happen all at once. This matter of Bathsheba was simply the climax of something that had been going on in his life for twenty years. 10. Therefore, staying home from the battle merely provided opportunity for the longstanding lack of romantic restraint and indulgence of passion to display itsel 11. David arose from his bed and walked on the roof : The Hebrew verb form of walkedsuggests that David paced back and forth on the roof. He couldn't sleep and was uneasy - uneasy because he wasn't where God wanted him to be 12. We must be an occasion for sin in others, even in how we dress. Paul's word 1 Timothy 2:9 is relevant here: the women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation

13. He saw a woman bathing: Davids sin was not in seeing Bathsheba. It was unlikely that he expected or planned to see her. David's sin was in choosing to keep his eyes on an alluring image after the sight came before his eyes. 14. Christians - men, especially - must learn to never let their eyes (or their mind) reston alluring images except for what "belongs" to them in marriage. Our eyes must "bounce" off of an alluring image that comes in sight. 15. Davids many wives did not satisfy his lust. This was because you cant satisfylusts of the flesh, because they are primarily rebellious assertions of self. It wasnt so much that David wanted Bathsheba; it was that he could not be satisfied with what God gave him. 16. The principle would be illustrated in an exaggerated way in the life of Solomon, David's son. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. David and Solomon show us that if one woman isn't enough, 1000 women aren't enough 17. David looked at Bathsheba and said "beauty" but God saw this as ugly. The pleasures of sin deceive us like the bait hides the hook. We must call it what God calls it - sin. We want to say, "affair" but God says "adultery." We want to say, "love" but God says "lust." We want to say "sexy" but God says "sin." We want to say, "romantic" but God says "ruin." We want to say, "destiny" but God says "destruction." 18. So David sent and inquired: David could have ended the temptation by leaving the scene at that time, even after entertaining the temptation for a while. Instead, David put himself into a more tempting situation 19. David committed adultery in his heart up on the roof. Now he knows that he has an opportunity to commit adultery in practice. Adultery in the heart and mind is bad; adultery in practice is far worse. 20. David should have received the news of the woman's identity as a warning. He learned that this woman was related to men close to David. In taking Bathsheba David sinned against Uriah, Eliam, and Ahithophel - each men close and important to David.

21. David encuentra la tentacin.v.2 22. David persigue la tentacin. V.3 23. David abraza la tentacin.v.4
24. The David sent messengers, and took her : In this the man after God's heart went against his own heart, following through on a lustful impulse. David ignored every warning and way of escape God set before him. 25. In the expression he took her, and she came to him there is no intimation whatever that David brought Bathsheba into his palace through craft or violence, but rather that she came at his request without any hesitation, and offered no resistance to his desires. Consequently Bathsheba is not to be regarded as free from blame. 26. He lay with her: David knew this was wrong, yet he did it. It's hard to explain David's thinking here, because he wasn't thinking. He acted on feeling and impulse instead ofthinking.

27. An unwanted pregnancy 28. The murder of a trusted friend 29. A dead baby 30. His daughter raped by his son 31. One son murdered by another son

32. 33.

A civil war led by one of his sons A son who imitates David's lack of self-control and it leads him and much of Israel away from God

34. Send me Uriah the Hittite: When David heard the disastrous news of Bathsheba's pregnancy he should have used it as a prompting to repent. Instead, David did what most unrepentant sinners do: hide his sin. He wanted to draw Uriah back home to have relations with Bathsheba to give a reason for her pregnancy.

35. The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents: This shows that Uriah had a passion for the glory of God, even though he was a Hittite and not a native Jew.
36. David had expected and hoped that Uriah would prove to be like himself; instead he proved to be a man of integrity, whose first loyalty was to the kings interests rather than to his own pleasure.
37. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.Vs. 27. 38. God gives us a helmet of salvation, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith and a sword because we are in a war. I encourage you to return to the front line if you have left. I encourage more to get on the front line if you have never been there. 39. He showed up in the list of thirty-plus men who were Davids mighty men. Though David was guilty of murder, he still had the heart to list Uriah there because Uriah was a hardened soldier, a mighty man of valor. Being a Hittite, he had obviously turned his back on the false gods of his father to serve the one and only true God, Jehovah God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Uriah married a beautiful young Jewish girl named Bathsheba. He joined the army and moved up quickly through the ranks to the place of prosperity and promise. His house was in the same development with the kings. 40. His conversion experience was such a life-changing decision that he became a red-hot patriot, anxious to fight the battles of his king and for his country. To Uriahs surprise, David, for ulterior motives, offered this valiant soldier what most every soldier dreams of in the heat of the battlea leave from the front line with full benefits and pay. 41. Thank God for the tenacity of a man who saw something bigger than even the king saw. Uriah realized that a battle was raging. He wanted to return to the front line. He desired to be where the battle was hot. Ladies and gentlemen, a battle is still raging in our world. Satan is as alive as he has ever been. He is fighting as hard as he has ever fought. In fact, he has turned up the heat, realizing he has but a short time. 42. As fundamental, Bible-believing Christians, we are in the fight of our lives. Casualties are mounting as we fail to reproduce ourselves even in our own children. Folks are quitting on God right in the middle of the battle. Some are tired, some are apathetic, some have wrong priorities, and some are even switching sides! Were in a mess! Fundamental Christians now, more than ever before, are needed on the front line, needed in the fight. We need more Sunday school teachers! more bus workers! more nursery workers! more soul winners! more preachers! more evangelists! 43. It is not time to retreat! It is time to return to the front line! We need more Christian school teachers, more choir members and more tithers. God knows we need godly moms and dads who are willing to teach children the old-time religion instead of what is popular. We need parents who will teach little girls to be little girls, and little boys to be little boys. We need preachers who will rise up and oppose the worldliness that is creeping into the churches. And we need deacons who will back up the preacher! 44. You have too much at stake not to be outspoken! You have too much at stake not to return to the front line. I am right now extending to you a call to return to the front line. You say, Why should I risk my popularity? Im saved. Im on my way to Heaven. Give me one good reason why I should give up my free time to serve God. Give me a good reason why I should demand that my family be at church every time the doors are open. 45. Our Faith Is Under Attack

When you realize that your faith is being attacked, you will return to the front line. Uriah said, The ark is out there. May I remind you that the ark was not just a symbol of God but a place of Gods abode at that time. God put His mark on that ark, and they took it to war. Uriah said, As long as the ark of God is out there, I will not sit back, eat, drink and be merry. God is out there; were in a battle; so Im not about to retreat! Our faith is being attacked in our country. Because of that, I cant stay home. The government is after our church. Hollywood is after our kids. Sodomites are after the pure lifestyles of our country. The media is trying to make us look like idiots. Humanists are trying to steal the very heart and soul of America. Evolutionists are after the Creator who created the heavens, the earth and man. 46. Ladies and gentlemen, he was talking about you and me! Since the world and the Devil are attacking our faith, it is not time for us to sit around with our mouths closed. We have the truth, and it is time to take a stand once again! It is time we return to the front line 47. has lost her heart and soul, and it is the sinner behind the gun who is killing people. The same thing that closed the doors and churches in other countries will close them in this country if people dont return to the front line. We have liberty in America because men have bled and died on the battlefield. 48. We also have our spiritual liberty because godly teachers, preachers, deacons and Christian workers who lived before this generation carried the torch high. They have lived and died, sweat and bled, to give us what we have today. Im not going to drop my sails just because Im of the generation that has taken the ball right now. Some others of my generation feel the same way, and I praise God for every one of them. May their tribe increase! Preacher, give me one good reason why I should return to the front line. Because the thing that you hold near and dear as a Christianyour very faithis being attacked every day! Our Nation Is Under Attack Uriah said, The ark and Israel are out there. What was he talking about? His nation was being attacked. Twenty-five years ago the sodomites were not in office, or if they were, you didnt know about it. Thirty-five years ago people valued human life, and abortion was illegal. Now we kill babies and sell their tissue for profit and research! God help us! Dont tell me were not in a holy war! Twenty-five years ago the youth of America had values; now drive-by shootings and other crimes rule our streets. I read an article about a judge in the juvenile court, just retired, who said, Thirty years ago, our detention center occupants were truce breakers; now they are murderers. I heard this just last night: Every twenty-three seconds a car is stolen in America. Were at war in America! Some of that war is being waged inside our border Twenty-five years ago the sodomites were not in office, or if they were, you didnt know about it. Thirty-five years ago people valued human life, and abortion was illegal. Now we kill babies and sell their tissue for profit and research! God help us! Dont tell me were not in a holy war! Twenty-five years ago the youth of America had values; now drive-by shootings and other crimes rule our streets. I read an article about a judge in the juvenile court, just retired, who said, Thirty years ago, our detention center occupants were truce breakers; now they are murderers. I heard this just last night: Every twenty-three seconds a car is stolen in America. Our Family Is Under Attack Uriah said, The ark is out there. My nation Israel is out there. Judah is out there. Uriah was a Hittite, but he married a Jewish girl, Bathsheba. Look on down through the passage, and you will see that he married into the family of Judah. When he said, Judah is out there, he was saying, Ive brothers-in-law, uncles and relatives out there. David, you have just called me back from fighting alongside my family. I will not do this thing! His family was under attack. You may not think it is your job to defend and fight for the Bible nor to fight for your church by serving God in some ministry nor to fight for your countrys sake. It is your fight, though I may not be able to convince you that it is. I cannot understand why Gods people will leave the front line of serving God and fighting the good fight just to sit around, when the spiritual welfare of their little boys and little girls is on the line! I love my wife; I love our teenage son. I wonder what kind of America Joel is going to grow up in. We have the freedoms we have right now because men fought, bled and died. Were able to worship here and say what were saying because men held the line! Yet folks are drifting off, going off into wild things. New Evangelicalism says, Heres your doctrine, but forget your separation.

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Charismatic televangelists are filling up auditoriums all over America. There are those who say, Well, whatever will be, will be. I have always been taught that blood runs thicker than water. I was trained to fight for my family. Im going to do my part to make a way for my family to serve and worship God until Jesus comes. Would to God that others would help me! 55. Our Leaders Are Under Attack You say, Give me one good reason why I should take a stand. Give me one good reason why I should cut my hair. Give me one good reason why I shouldnt put on a miniskirt. Give me one good reason why I shouldnt smoke or drink beer. Give me one good reason why I shouldnt play the lottery. Give me one good reason why I should teach my kids to hold the line. Give me one good reason why I should make my kids come to church and why they should be involved in some Christian club at the church. The ark is out there! Israel is out there! Judah is out there! Joab is out there! Joab was the leader. I say to you, the pastor of your church is out there. Does anybody care? 56. If I were a member of your church, one of the many reasons why I would toe the line, stay on the front line and be faithful to soul winning and bus visitation is that I would have so much love and respect for my preacher that I wouldnt do anything to be disloyal to him. We need a church full of people like that. Fundamental, God-fearing, Bible-believing pastors are not found everywhere. Joab is out there! Whoever your preacher is, if he is a man of God, you ought to love him 57. Our Fellow Christians Are Under Attack Then Uriah said, The servants of God are out there, the people in the church. I love Gods people and enjoy being around them. I have the time of my life fellowshiping with the people at Gods house. Uriah said they were encamped in the open fields. The enemy in this case had a walled city, but Gods people were in an open field. In our generation, evil is protected, and we have to fight for righteousness. Isaiah said: 58. Picture yourself standing in the open field of slaughter compared to Satans enormous army. The truth is, we have always been a minority. There was a time in the 70s when we thought we were the moral majority, but if we are now, you surely cant tell it. Maybe were the silent majority. We stand in an open field as immorality on television shoots like a machine gun. Christians say, Its harmless. Yet it mows them down in the open field, deceiving them and stripping away their values. Our young people stand in an open field of drugs and alcohol, the number-one killer among teenagers today. Satan deceives them into thinking it is harmless. You wont get hooked, he says. Yet we laugh at the beer commercials on television and think theyre funny. Theyre not funny! Were standing in an open field. Our young ladies stand unprotected in the open field of promiscuity. They are mowed down with the lie, Everyone is doing it. Everyone is not doing it! 59. The pressure comes. Oh, we dont need to be out there soul winning. Nobody is doing that now. Yes, some still are. The pressure comes. Oh, you fundamentalists! Dont you know everybody now is going evangelical? No, not everybody! A Christian still ought to live like a Christian. A Christian still ought to dress like a Christian. When the pressure comes, we need somebody to stand up and say, The ark of God is out there! My country is out there! My family is out there! My pastor is out there! My friends are out there! As I live, I will not do this thing! 60. It seems kind of crazy to want to return to the front line, but Im having the time of my life on the front line. I love what I do. I love being a Christian. You say, Well, let someone else do it. No! You do it! If you are on the front line serving God, stay there! If you have left the front line for one reason or another, I beg you, come back. There are teenagers sitting in here who need to enlist for duty. Some young men need to say, Ill be a preacher. Ill go to Miami. Ill learn Spanish if I have to. Ill go to California. Ill go to the Northeast. Ill go! Some of you young people need to walk down this aisle and say, Ill keep myself pure. Some of you young ladies need to say, I want to marry a preacher. Some dads need to say, Ill jerk the knot on the end of the rope and stop the slide that my kids are

on right now. 61.