Freedom From Secret Sin
2 Samuel 12:1–14
Our sin never just goes away, and God loves us too much to let it stay.
Psalm 32:3–4
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
1. Confrontation
2 Samuel 12:1a
And the LORD sent Nathan to David.
Hebrews 12:6
For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.
2 Samuel 12:1b-4
1b He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
“daughter” (Hb. bat)
Bathsheba (Hb. bat-šebaʿ)
2. Conviction
2 Samuel 12:5–6
5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.”
6 “And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
2 Samuel 12:7
Nathan said to David, “You are the man!
2 Samuel 12:8–10
8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.
9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’
2 Samuel 12:9
Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight?
Psalm 51:4a
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight
You cannot have a casual relationship with sin and a close relationship with God.
3. Consequences
2 Samuel 12:10–12
10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
11 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.
12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”
2 Samuel 12:14
“But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”
Galatians 6:7–8a
7a Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption
Sin is not just an act - it’s planting a seed.
4. Confession
Confrontation shows you your sin.
Conviction brings brokenness over your sin.
Consequences reveal the deadliness of your sin.
Confession is where your chains break!
2 Samuel 12:13
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
Confession is openly agreeing with God about our sin instead of hiding, excusing, or blaming.
Psalm 32:3
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
Psalm 32:5
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
