Overview:
2 Samuel 11:1–5
There was no one mightier than David. As a lad, David had faithfully protected his family’s sheep from both the lion and the bear; then astounded the nation of Israel when he felled the giant Goliath. He proved himself a valiant warrior, and, with David as commander-in-chief, no army was more feared that Israel’s. He was a national symbol for truth, righteousness, justice, and compassion. He was a musician, songwriter, and visionary. That was the mighty David, the anointed one, a man after God’s own heart. What a legacy! And yet, at the height of his success, with a palace filled with faithful servants and luxuries immeasurable, King David fell in the midst of battle. But his lost battle wasn’t against the lion, the bear, the giant, or the Philistines. David lost the battle against himself. Before we examine the tragic episode in David’s life that would forever mar his legacy, it’s important that we understand that this is not simply an objective autopsy of one man’s failure. It’s a warning to all of us. Everything that’s discovered about David—his mistakes and his weaknesses—apply to everyone. We need to remind ourselves of that daily, or after our autopsy of David’s fall we could end up on the coroner’s table ourselves.
Message Summary:
In this sobering and urgent message, Chuck Swindoll examines the tragic moral fall of King David to warn believers about the “twilight zone of temptation”. Swindoll argues that a moral collapse is rarely sudden; rather, it is the result of a gradual weakening of character, much like a tree that rots from the inside before falling. Using the narrative of 2 Samuel 11, Swindoll dissects the specific vulnerabilities that led David—a man after God’s own heart—to commit adultery with Bathsheba and attempt to cover it up.
Swindoll identifies three specific areas that weakened David’s spiritual defenses: polygamy, success, and indulgence. He points out that David’s decision to stay home during the spring war season led to a moment of unguarded idleness, proving that “time on our hands is perilous”. The sermon transitions from biblical analysis to modern application, offering practical strategies for maintaining moral purity in a culture saturated with temptation. Swindoll urges listeners to acknowledge their own weakness, guard their leisure time (specifically regarding the internet), maintain strict accountability, and rehearse the devastating consequences of sin before it happens.
Message Key Facts:
- The “Twilight Zone” of Temptation: Swindoll describes the moment of David’s fall not as a time of high productivity, but as a moment of restlessness and boredom. He likens David’s stroll on the roof to a modern person aimlessly channel-surfing or browsing the internet late at night.
- The Myth of Suddenness: Quoting F.B. Meyer, Swindoll emphasizes that “no man suddenly becomes base.” Just as a marriage doesn’t fracture instantly, David’s sin was the result of a long, slow erosion of character.
- Three Factors that Weakened David:
- Polygamy: Contrary to the belief that having many partners satisfies desire, Swindoll argues that sexual passion is not satisfied by a harem but is increased by it. David’s disobedience to Deuteronomy 17:17 inflamed his libido rather than quelling it.
- Success: After two decades of “sterling leadership” and no military defeats, David was untouchable. His high approval ratings made him feel invincible and above accountability.
- Indulgence: David chose comfort over duty by staying home when kings went to war. This “relaxed, unguarded indolence” left him vulnerable to temptation.
- The Nature of Temptation: Swindoll cites Dietrich Bonhoeffer to explain that during fierce temptation, “God is quite unreal” to the sinner. The powers of discrimination and decision are stripped away, leaving only desire.
- Shared Culpability: While focusing on David, Swindoll notes that Bathsheba was also careless. By bathing in a place visible from the palace, she lacked modesty and prudence, serving as a reminder that believers must ensure they do not become stumbling blocks to others.
- Preventative Strategy—Rehearsing Consequences: Swindoll recommends the practice of listing the specific, devastating costs of a moral fall—such as grieving God, destroying one’s family, and losing self-respect—to counteract the allure of sin.
Message References:
- 2 Samuel 11:1–5: The primary text detailing David’s decision to stay in Jerusalem, his observation of Bathsheba from the roof, and the subsequent act of adultery.
- 2 Samuel 1:25: David’s own lament for Saul, “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle,” which ironically became the epitaph for his own moral failure.
- Deuteronomy 17:17: The command from the Torah forbidding kings from multiplying wives, which David flagrantly ignored.
- 2 Samuel 5:13: The record that David took more concubines and wives after coming from Hebron, illustrating his unchecked polygamy.
- Psalm 55:17 & Psalm 141:2: Passages indicating that David’s usual custom was to pray during the evening—a habit he neglected on the night of his fall.
- 2 Samuel 3:36: A reference to David’s immense popularity: “Everything the king did pleased all the people”.
