https://youtu.be/rfpmUI93N5w

2 Sam 11

Why preach a sermon on such a bleak passage?

I never want to preach something to you that I don’t find challenging to myselfDavid’s complacency got him into big troubleI am often spiritually complacentI don’t want to fail like David failedI 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 yourselfWhat 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 lifeHe just has to appeal to my fallen nature and his has an automatic allyIf 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

Great CharacterRighteous – A man after God’s own heart Acts 13:22Humble and LoyalA man of profound FaithHe had great spiritual gifts such as prophecyStrong and BraveWhen he was a teenager maybe even younger he slew lions and bears that came after his father’s flockHe put the king and warriors of Israel to shame when he faced down Goliath with nothing but his faith and sling shotGreat Warrior and tacticianMercifulCharismatic and handsomeAmazing TalentGreat poet and singerA great administrator and leaderProminent Position as KingFamousRespect of the peopleAnd he had the favor of GodHe was at the zenith of his power and success

Despite all of this David fell into vile, shameful, treacherous, perverted sinIf 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

The Complacency that comes from over confidenceAnd the complacency that comes from apathyWhat kind of complacency did David haveI 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.