2 Samuel 12:1-15: David and Bathsheba (Part 2)

"Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?" 2 Samuel 12:9a

A few days ago, we looked at how David's original sin with Bathsheba was that he was lazy. Because he was sitting around twiddling his thumbs and not taking responsibility, he was soon led to lusting, followed by adultery, and then murder. However, David's ultimate sin was not against Bathsheba or even her husband, but against God (see Psalm 51:4). Thus, this morning we will take one more look at David's great sin in these chapters, and find how he despised the Lord.

In chapter 12, David is confronted about his sin from the prophet Nathan. Certainly much can be said about this event, but I would like to look at one thing specifically this morning. When God confronted David about his sin through the prophet Nathan, God's biggest problem with David is that he "despised" God. Perhaps this is not the sin you might think of when you read David's story. You might think that he was greedy, lustful, selfish, or discontent. Although all those things are certainly true, scripture tells us that David's main shortcoming in this entire story was his despising of the Lord (see verse above).

But what does it mean to despise someone or something? According to Meriam-Webster, to despise something is "to look down on with disrespect" or "to regard as worthless or distasteful." Both of those definitions are words that I certainly would not want to be doing in relationship with God, yet David did them both. In his sin with Bathsheba, he outrighly stated with his actions that God was "worthless" and "distasteful" to him. How so? You might ask. Well, think about it. If David truly believed in the moment he saw Bathsheba on the roof that God was truly all that he said he was, do you think he would have sinned? If David truly believed in that moment that God's ways were best and that he was his only satisfying pleasure, would David have sinned? Certainly not. Thus, David despised the Lord, and so do we.

So, when is the last time you have despised the Lord and considered him distasteful and unpleasant? Here, let me answer that question for you: every time you sin. Whenever you sin, you are calling both the Lord and the Lord's ways inferior to your own plans. Thus, you are despising the Lord. But, my dear brother and sister, stop it! The Lord's plans are always best, and we must not sin in despising him, but rather trust in his goodness and grace. Don't despise the Lord, love him for all that he is, and follow in his paths always! Amen!