David - Lesson 6
Overview
David Under the Sword
Though the Lord forgave David's sin with Bathsheba, he did not remove its consequences. Through the prophet Nathan, the Lord declared, "The sword shall never depart from your house" 2 Samuel 12:10. What followed in 2 Samuel 13–19 reads as the sober fulfillment of that word: Amnon's rape of Tamar, Absalom's murder of Amnon, Absalom's rebellion and usurpation of the throne, the public defilement of David's concubines by his own son, the betrayal of Ahithophel 2 Samuel 16:23, and finally the death of Absalom himself. David accepted this discipline, rose from grief, and worshiped 2 Samuel 12:20, trusting that he would one day see his child again 2 Samuel 12:23.
Discipline Flows From Love, Not Wrath
David's experience opens up a wider biblical theme. Scripture consistently presents God's discipline of his children as an act of fatherly love rather than an outpouring of anger. "Do not despise the Lord's discipline… for the Lord reproves the one he loves" Proverbs 3:11–12. Job declares, "How happy is the one whom God reproves… for he wounds, but he binds up" Job 5:17–18. Paul warns that the Lord disciplines his church even through the Lord's Supper, "so that we may not be condemned along with the world" 1 Corinthians 11:27–32. The risen Christ says plainly, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline" Revelation 3:19.
This is crucial: God's wrath against our sin was poured out on Jesus at the cross. What remains for the believer is not punishment but training. Discipline here means correction and refinement, the loving shaping of a child by a Father—never the venting of anger. To confuse the two distorts both God's character and our understanding of human parenting.
Enduring Trials as Training
Hebrews 12:5–11 gathers these threads together: "Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children… he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness." Trials, troubles, and difficulties are not evidence that we are worse sinners than others—Jesus himself rejected that logic Luke 13:1–5. Rather, they are signs that we belong to him. Discipline is painful in the moment, but it "yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
For David, the long aftermath of his sin produced a more humble, God-fearing king. The same God who continually speaks his word of forgiveness to us—at the absolution, in the Supper, whenever we cry out in repentance—also patiently works on our sinful nature through hardship. God never wastes suffering. When the winds are at our back, we easily forget him; in trial, he draws us close and conforms us to Christ. So we can endure patiently, trusting that the hand which disciplines is the same hand that was pierced for us.
Transcript
Thank you for this day of grace for your promises that surround us, that gird us up. 7s
We ask now for your rich blessing as we open up your word, speak to us for your servants 16s
listen in Jesus name. 21s
Well, let's take a peek at where we have been in our class thus far as we're starting to round 26s
the bend here with these this class and then the class next week. 33s
We took a look at the first appointed king which was Saul and because of Saul's repeated 39s
disobedience, because of his hardness of heart the Lord had rejected Saul as king and the 45s
youngest of Jesse's sons was anointed and that being David. 53s
We studied David versus Goliath and how David took five stones with him as he was 58s
anticipating more giants, perhaps then one but he had just the right number of stones. 65s
We took a look at how David remembered the covenant. 72s
We examined how Saul pursued David and we reflected on the tragic life of Saul. 76s
That failure to listen to God into obey him, how there was a failure to repent and how fear 83s
and anger just simply consumed him. 90s
We took a look at how David reacted to the death of Saul and Jonathan and how David reacted 94s
in praising their successes and their good qualities. 101s
We saw that as such a positive example of leadership. 104s
We saw that David's rise to power was not uncontested. 108s
We examined Psalm 27, a time in which civil war was perhaps about ready to break out. 114s
They had just come from a defeat against the Philistines and yet David writes that gorgeous 123s
gorgeous Psalm Psalm 27. 130s
We studied about David and Bashiba and the adultery and how God used Nathan to bring that 133s
word in which David's heart was transformed by the grace of God to repentance. 140s
So we've taken a look at David in the field on the run on the rise on the throne and on the 147s
edge and today we're going to take a look at David under the sword. 153s
The Lord forgave David for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. 162s
But the scripture also reveals that the Lord disciplined David. 171s
Let's turn to 2 Samuel 12th chapter. 177s
Please, Genesis Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel 180s
and then Second Samuel, Second Samuel, Chapter 12, picking up in verse 10. 188s
This is a word here that Nathan is bringing the Lord's word that he is bringing to David. 199s
And it's a word here of how David is going to be disciplined by the Lord. 206s
Verse 10 of chapter 12, Second Samuel, 212s
Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house. 217s
For you have despised me and have taken the wife of your Ia, the Hithite, to be your wife. 221s
Thus says the Lord, I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house. 228s
And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor. 235s
And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very son. 240s
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all this real, and before the son. 247s
David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. 254s
Now the Lord has put away your sin, you shall not die, nevertheless. 262s
Because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die. 270s
David accepts this discipline from the Lord, and knows that someday he will see. 280s
Now the child that is going to die in heaven, jumping over into verse 20 of chapter 12. 287s
Then David rose from the ground, washed and noided himself, changed his clothes. 295s
He went into the house of the Lord in worship, he then went to his own house. 301s
And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate, verse 23. 305s
But now he is dead, why should I fast? 310s
Can I bring him back again? 316s
I shall go to him, but he will not return to me. 318s
The long term discipline, however, was just about to begin. 326s
God allows trials and difficulties and problems into David's life. 334s
And it is a way that God disciplines David. 341s
When you look at the series of events in 2 Samuel, chapter 13 to 19, 347s
what you see is a wedge is driven. 353s
A wedge is driven between David and his third son, Epsalam. 356s
David's first son, Amnna, rapes his sister, Tamar. 370s
David is furious about this, but he does nothing about it. 378s
And so, Epsalam takes matters into his own hand and kills Amnna. 388s
So, Amnna rapes his sister. 400s
David is furious, doesn't do anything. 404s
Epsalam then kills Amnna. 407s
Epsalam has no love, we see from scripture. 410s
No love or respect for his father, David. 415s
And begins to plot to take the kingdom away from David. 419s
He promises the people a fairer system of justice. 424s
He mounts the military coup against his father. 430s
He forces David to flee and you serve David's throne. 434s
Take a look at 2 Samuel again, chapter 11, the first part of verse 11. 443s
Thus says the Lord, I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house. 451s
That prophecy then delivered by Nathan is coming true. 461s
It's coming true. 468s
Nathan also prophesied, picking up in verse 11, the second part. 471s
And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor. 477s
And he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very son. 485s
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the son. 492s
A man by the name of a hyphophile was a trusted advisor of David. 501s
In fact, it was his most trusted advisor. 510s
Take a look at 2 Samuel chapter 16, verse 23, 2 Samuel 16, verse 23. 515s
Now in those days the counsel that a hyphophile gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God. 528s
So all the counsel of a hyphophile was esteemed both by David and by Absalom. 537s
But when Absalom enters into Jerusalem, a fithafel, a bandends David, and gives his loyalty to Absalom. 547s
And he advises Absalom to sleep with his father's concubines in the plain sight of the people of Israel. 565s
The goal was to make this division between David and Absalom very, very apparent. 577s
He wanted the people to conclude that civil war was inevitable. 587s
That things were fallen apart and you better pick aside to be on. 595s
So his most trusted advisor turns against him and then gives this counsel here to Absalom, 603s
which is the living out of the very word of prophecy that Nathan had given. 614s
When the battle turns against Absalom and his army, Absalom turns in fleas, 623s
and he's on his muel and he gets caught under a low-hanging tree, and Joe abcomes, and kills Absalom. 630s
The discipline then of the Lord. 644s
It started with Nathan's review. 650s
It then manifested itself in the death of his son. 655s
It continued with strife in the family. 660s
Amnance rape of Tamar and Absalom's murder of Amnance. 665s
It continued with Absalom, you surping the throne, and defiling David's wives and concubines, 672s
David witnesses civil war and finally then the death of Absalom. 686s
And all of that we see, prophesied by Nathan, comes true. 697s
What we see here is the action of the discipline of God on David. 703s
So, what do you do with that? 713s
And what do you do with the other texts that talks about God disciplining? 720s
For example, let's go over to Proverbs chapter 3. 728s
Good way to find Proverbs is just to open up to the center, and you'll find the book of Psalms. 733s
And then right as you move towards the New Testament, book right next door to the right is Proverbs. 739s
Proverbs chapter 3 verse 11. 745s
Proverbs 3 verses 11 and 12. 753s
And there we read my child, do not despise the Lord's discipline, or be weary of his reproof. 763s
For the Lord reproves the one He loves, as a father, the son, in whom He delights. 774s
Notice in particular the word in verse 11. 781s
Discipline. 786s
Let's go over to Job 5 chapter. 789s
And Job is right before the book of Psalms. 796s
Job chapter 5 verse 17. 801s
Job 5 verse 17. 808s
How happy is the one whom God reproves. 820s
Therefore, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. 823s
For He wounds but He binds up. 832s
He strikes but His hands heal. 835s
Let's go over to the New Testament. 841s
Let's go to 1 Corinthians 11 chapter. 842s
Matthew Mark, Luke John, Acts and Romans. 845s
1st and 2 Corinthians. 848s
1 Corinthians 11 chapter. 851s
1 Corinthians 11 chapter. 855s
Let's get a little bit more context on this. 863s
Let's go to verse 27, 1 Corinthians. 867s
Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be 872s
heard. 881s
Let's talk about communion here. 881s
Exam in yourselves and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 884s
For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against 891s
themselves, what's being referenced here is receiving holy communion where there's no repentance. 897s
So it's coming forward to receive the body and blood of our Lord whereby God gives to us what has been accomplished 906s
on the cross. 915s
God gives to us in that tangible way of that forgiveness so that we know that it is ours. 917s
What's being referenced here is receiving that in an unrepentant state. 923s
There's a severe warning on this. 929s
Because notice how it goes in the end of verse 29 that if you do that you eat and drink judgment against 933s
yourself. 940s
For this reason many of you are weak and ill and some have died. 942s
But if we judged ourselves we would not be judged. 947s
But when we are judged by the Lord we are disciplined. 951s
There's a word again so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 954s
Let me show you another one. 962s
Let's go to Revelation chapter 3. 964s
Please, Revelation chapter 3 verse 19. 968s
Revelation 3 verse 19. 974s
There we read. 989s
I reprove and disciplined those whom I love be earnest therefore and repent. 991s
So that word discipline keeps popping up and it's associated with God's action in God 1003s
disciplining his people. 1009s
The discipline of God that God sends upon his children does not flow from wrath. 1014s
But we see from the scripture here that it flows from love. 1023s
And God uses trials, troubles, problems as a form of 1029s
discipline upon us. 1039s
They are designed for our temporal and eternal good. 1043s
And what's so important to understand here is that when trials and problems come upon us or in the larger 1048s
understanding of what can be termed discipline in scripture. 1057s
This is not God punishing us for our sin. 1060s
So often we think of discipline associated with punishment. 1065s
And so often we think of discipline associated with anger. 1074s
To where I'll give a bad example, a parent gets angry at their child and then out of anger disciplines the child. 1080s
And so discipline becomes associated with anger. 1092s
Parents will get angry at their children. 1100s
But really be careful when it's linked to discipline. 1104s
Because what's getting expressed there is it discipline in the terms of correction in terms of 1109s
what you want you to move a different direction of refinement or as a discipline in the terms of expressing parental anger. 1117s
That's really, really dangerous. 1129s
And that's how we so often will associate discipline as associated with anger. 1133s
What we see here with regard to God and his children is God does not discipline us because it is an expression of his wrath. 1141s
No, his wrath has been laid upon the sun, the Lord Jesus at the cross. 1154s
Jesus has borne our punishment on the cross. 1159s
Discipline then is associated with training, with correction, with refinement. 1163s
So the discipline of our Lord is not punishment. 1175s
He uses trials and troubles for training. 1180s
It's not an expression of his wrath. 1189s
So when we experience trials and problems and challenges and difficulties that's all lumped under the understanding of the discipline of our Lord. 1194s
The book of Proverbs declares that it's like the parent-child relationship. 1206s
In the parent-child relationship, that involves love and discipline. 1213s
And love and discipline are not contradictory to each other. 1221s
Now don't take that statement with liberality and say it's fine here to express discipline in harsh and 1227s
don't take it that way. 1241s
If you remember when scripture, one of the most misunderstood portions of scripture is a spare the rod spoiled a child. 1246s
And that has been used by parents in terms of actions that could be termed a violence against their children. 1255s
Spear the rod spoiled a child talks about the shepherd and a shepherd does not use the rod to hit their children. 1266s
Their sheep doesn't use that on that. 1274s
And as you can see, I don't counsel parents to spank. 1278s
Don't do it. 1283s
Because what you see is you see the use of scripture to justify spanking. 1284s
That's a misuse scripture. 1291s
It's a misuse scripture. 1292s
There are different ways to discipline a child than hitting them. 1295s
And to say that it's okay because what they need is a really good spanking. 1302s
You see what gets associated with that spanking? 1313s
The wrath of the parent is associated with it. 1317s
The misuse scripture. 1322s
She never used rods to hit their, to hit their sheep. 1324s
Well, we're in a whole different subject now. 1327s
But what you see in the book of Proverbs, you see in the book of Proverbs is the parent child relationship that involves love and it involves discipline. 1331s
We love our children. 1343s
We correct them. 1344s
We point out their misdeeds. 1346s
We encourage them and we help them and we can discipline our children without hitting them. 1348s
Let's look at Hebrews, the 12th chapter. 1357s
Hebrews chapter 12. 1361s
Picking up in verse 5. 1365s
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children. 1373s
My child do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when you are punished by him. 1378s
Now let me pause here. 1390s
If you go to the ESV version, the English standard version, that word there for punishment is reproves. 1392s
When you go over to the NIV version, that word they're translated in the NRSV has punished is rebuked. 1400s
I do not like this translation in the NRSV. 1409s
This is the version obviously we use. 1414s
I'm sending warnings. 1415s
I think they missed it here because it's not echoed in other versions. 1417s
It's not the best translation of the word. 1422s
Best translation is reprover, rebuke. 1425s
ESV in the NIV V have it. 1428s
So my child do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when you are reproved or rebuked. 1431s
For the Lord disciplines those whom he love and chastises every child whom he accepts. 1439s
Look at verse 7. 1446s
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. 1449s
See what's held together there? 1455s
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. 1458s
So when God allows trials in our lives, problems in our lives, difficulties in our lives, 1462s
that is Godly discipline of it. 1468s
He's not punishing us because somehow we are worse sinners than everybody else. 1471s
Or if you have a whole bunch of problems, do not interpret it as if you are worse sinner than everybody. 1477s
Everybody else. 1483s
Nope. 1485s
Understand here that this is a way in which God refines us and corrects us. 1486s
The discipline is not born out of wrath. 1492s
It is born out of love for his children. 1496s
Same image that we have in the book of Proverbs. 1501s
Let's go on. 1507s
Verse 7 again. 1508s
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. 1509s
God is treating you as children. 1511s
For what child is there whom a parent does not discipline. 1513s
If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, 1518s
then you are illegitimate and not his children. 1522s
So notice what we experience then when we have problems in difficulties in our life 1527s
and we all have problems in difficulties in our life, 1533s
that is proving our standing with God. 1537s
Because God uses trials and difficulties in the lives of his children 1540s
as a way to refine, to correct, going on in the verse 10. 1544s
For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them. 1553s
But he disciplines us for our good in order that we may share his holiness. 1557s
Now discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time. 1565s
But later it yields the piece of peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 1569s
There is the intended outcome. 1578s
Verse 11 again. 1582s
Now discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time. 1583s
But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 1586s
We become more like our holy father as he disciplines us and uses that as refinement and correction. 1593s
As Christians, we continually hear the message of forgiveness. 1607s
Remember, after David said that he was guilty, what did he receive from Nathan? 1612s
Absolutely. 1620s
It was the word of forgiveness. 1622s
He receives the word of forgiveness. 1626s
We continually receive that word of forgiveness. 1628s
But our sinful nature sometimes continues to need discipline. 1631s
And what does God do in terms of making us more and more like the son is he gives us trials and problems. 1638s
And difficulties he allows them into our lives. 1649s
And he uses that to correct us to refine us to become more and more like Jesus Christ. 1654s
The discipline that came as a result of the sin of Euryah. 1665s
And God says, here are the problems now. 1672s
And the trials they're going to come about. 1674s
What did it wind up doing in the life of David? 1677s
But it made him to be more humble and God-fearing. 1682s
God never wastes suffering. 1690s
Never wastes suffering. 1693s
So often you hear the phrase, if God were really, really loving God, then why does he allow suffering? 1695s
Well, one response is because, well, there's sin in the world. 1706s
So let's not blame God for all this suffering that you see. 1710s
We bring it upon ourselves. 1715s
So often, right? 1717s
That's so often suffering that we have as a result directly of our own personal sinfulness or of the sinfulness of humanity in the larger sense as we live in a sinful world. 1719s
But God allows suffering, me allows problems, and he allows trials because he has an ultimate purpose. 1731s
And that is to refine and to correct us. 1742s
That's different than the word of forgiveness that we receive. 1745s
We receive that word of forgiveness each and every time we go to the Lord. 1750s
Is it a Lord forgive me for what I did? 1756s
Forgive me for what I said. 1759s
We receive that word of forgiveness in that word of absolute. 1761s
At the beginning of the service, we receive that word of forgiveness. 1764s
When we receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, where God gives us that forgiveness and the words of my former professor says, 1768s
and swallow it. 1776s
So you make sure that you know that that is yours. 1777s
God continues to give us that word of forgiveness. 1781s
But the sinful nature, we still carry the side of heaven. 1786s
Remember, we're the same time, similar you just at Prakata, same time, Satan and sinner. 1791s
And God uses discipline to work on the sinful nature that we have. 1798s
Born out of his love. 1805s
We must not assume that God's discipline of us implies that we're somehow a worse sinner than the other person. 1809s
We must not look and to say, you know, that person has a lot more problems in their life than I seem to be having. 1824s
He must be a really big sinner. 1834s
Because my life seems to be going well. 1839s
Bad theology there, right? 1842s
Bad theology. 1844s
Remember when the tower of Salome fell, and they said that those who that were killed, and they asked Jesus, 1845s
were they worse sinners than everybody else? 1852s
Jesus said, no. 1854s
God uses discipline to his glory. 1858s
We are to endure discipline then patiently. 1864s
We are to look to our loving Lord to accomplish the purpose, whatever that may be. 1867s
And we can trust him that when the discipline comes, the trials, the problems, the challenges that we have. 1875s
God is using that to correct us, to refine us, to make us more and more like Christ. 1886s
Because it's in the times of suffering that we are particularly changed by God. 1898s
It is in times when things are going great at 70 degrees and the wind is at our back. 1907s
But in our sinfulness, we have a tendency to forget him. 1913s
And so we can embrace the trials and the challenges and the problems and know that the Lord is Lord over them. 1919s
God disciplines not out of wrath. 1930s
He disciplines out of love. 1937s
Well, we have taken a look at the field on the run on the rise on the throne and on the edge on the sword. 1943s
And next week as we conclude our class, we are going to take a look at David at the last. 1951s
We will continue next week. 1958s