Join Jeff Archie in this episode as he uncovers the biblical narrative of David’s life, a tale filled with trials and triumphs. With a focus on sin and redemption, this broadcast illustrates David’s journey from grace, his grave mistakes, and his path to divine forgiveness. As we analyze his actions and learn from his journey, we understand how acknowledging our faults and embracing change can lead us to forgiveness and a better path forward.
Hey there, friend. Is your life messed up? Today, let’s look at the scriptures of one who messed up his life, but he leaves us a pattern to help ours. And that’s coming up on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. Stay with us.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web and greetings to all of you. Great having you with us once again for our studies from the International Gospel Hour. A little bit of information. If you’d like to write to us, our address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. That’s P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. If you’d like to call us concerning free material or information, or maybe just a call and tell us where you’re listening to our broadcast, our toll-free number, available 24-7, is 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. Our website is internationalgospelhour.com. That’s internationalgospelhour.com. Please feel free to peruse our website and even click on the contact tab and leave us any message that you would like. Thanks for tuning in today. In Romans 15 and verse 4… The Apostle Paul said, For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. I am indebted to my brother and friend Mark Posey for the thoughts today concerning the shepherd boy turned king, David. You know, David is one of the most popular characters in the Bible. We see he triumphed over a lion, a bear, and a giant. He maintained integrity while hunted like a wild animal by King Saul. He even led God’s people to dedication while he was king. But you know, even a man after God’s own heart like David can mess up his life. David sinned and really messed up. Think about 2 Samuel chapter 11 and verse 1 where he acted irresponsibly. In verses 2 through 5, he acted irreverently. desiring and taking Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. And then in verses 6 through 27 of this chapter, 2 Samuel 11, he acted irrationally when he learned of Bathsheba’s pregnancy and he set up Uriah’s death. When you think about it, David broke 50% of the Ten Commandments. There’s adultery, 2 Samuel 11 in verse 4, that’s commandment number 7. He coveted his neighbor’s wife there in 2 Samuel 11 and verse 3. That’s commandment number 10. Stole another man’s wife. That’s 2 Samuel 12 and verse 9. That’s commandment number 8. He lied in 2 Samuel 11, 7 and 8, 12 and 13. That’s breaking commandment number 9. And he even murdered an individual. 2 Samuel 11 and verse 17 and chapter 12 and verse 9. That’s commandment number six. Wow. You know, when you look at it that way, it is really a humbling study about David. His sin was great and he needed help when his life was messed up. Now, you know, friends, it’s easy to look at David to read these accounts and say, how could he do so? But, you know, friends, we can find ourselves in the same way. And we very well may find ourselves messed up. When one messes up, what do we need to do? And what is needed to be done? We’ll let David give us a pattern in a moment. But first, I’ll be back in a little under 30 seconds. But here’s some information about the International Gospel Hour app.
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The International Gospel Hour app is available for your iPhone or Android. A free download awaits you at the App Store for iPhones and Google Play for your Android. Just search International Gospel Hour and download our app free. Our app allows access to our study resources all in the palm of your hand. Please download the International Gospel Hour app today.
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Friends, with a messed up life, what help did David need? Well, he needed someone to be totally honest about the sin in his life. He didn’t need someone to soothe his conscience or pacify his soul. He needed truth and honesty. And Nathan the prophet was the man. From 2 Samuel 12, verses 1-4, the Lord sent Nathan to David, and he came to him and said to him, There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished, and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him. But he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. Well, friends, if you remember, David got angry at that man. And that is when Nathan told him he was the man for what he had done. And he had taken Bathsheba, Uriah’s lamb, if you will. You see, David needed a heart that could be broken. He admitted his contrite heart to offer before God, Psalm 51, 17, a heart that was tender and receptive. He needed the assurance of forgiveness. Where our number one problem is sin, thus our number one need is the forgiveness of sin. And David acknowledged as much in Psalm 32, verse 1. And David needed continued strength to carry on after his sin had been forgiven. There is a great need for encouragement and exhortation in the world and in the church. You know, Paul mentioned of the man that had been marked and withdrawn from for the adultery with his father’s wife and how he had repented. And Paul said that he needed to be comforted lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 2 Corinthians 2.7 Second, David learned some valuable lessons, and we can see this with a messed up life. He learned of the certainty of exposure, for in Numbers 32 and verse 23 we are reminded to be sure your sin will find you out. He learned the certainty of harvest time, for in Galatians 6, 6 and 7 we are reminded that be not deceived, God is not mocked, that whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. And David learned the certainty of separation that his sin had separated him from God, Isaiah 59, 1 and 2. So what did David do when confronted with his sin? Well, David admitted and acknowledged his sin, 2 Samuel 12, 13. He showed personal responsibility for his sin, though he was not the only sinner. You know, sometimes, friends, an individual is caught or they acknowledge wrong and they say, I take full responsibility. Well, with all due respect, I suppose you will because you did wrong. It’s hard to do, but when we acknowledge it, we press onward. David then turned to God as he stated in Psalm 51 in verse 4. There are no small sins against the great God. And David asked God for forgiveness. Psalm 51 and verse 1. He didn’t use an elaborate or soft vocabulary. He simply said, I have sinned and God forgave. Now friends, in the original Hebrew language, David’s statement, I have sinned against the Lord, amounts to only two words in the Hebrew. Hata al Yahweh. These two words and the heart they reflect show the fundamental difference between David and Saul. You see, confession doesn’t need to be long to be real and sincere. David’s confession is an example for each of us. He placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders, and he did not minimize his offense. David realized that his sin was against God. You know, friends, if we have a messed up life, let’s be totally honest, learn some valuable lessons, and now that we’re confronted with a messed up life, let’s see what we can do about it. You know, an individual that will believe in God and will repent of his sins will address that messed up life, confess his faith in Christ and is baptized into Christ for the remission of those sins. And even with David, with one who is a simple New Testament Christian, they can ask God for forgiveness and confess that fault. And God will forgive. Friends, sometimes the messed up life needs some careful study. May we help you? Sometimes a Bible study course one-on-one or beginning with that and opening doors for other opportunities. We’ll help you any way that we can. Let’s begin with this free course by mail. And here is our J-Web with the details.
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Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try. And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Again, friends, I am grateful to my brother and friend Mark Posey and his excellent work titled Pulpit Preview, of which the lesson was brought forth today. It’s a worthy study about David. His life was messed up, but yet, friends, we can mess up our lives. Let us turn to the same God and respond to Him. And we’ll continue our studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today. To God goes all the glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. To listen to it again, or our other broadcasts, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
