Introduction

• Many people see the Bible as a list of rules you can’t break.
• When we break God’s rules, we cause harm.
• God’s rules are not arbitrary.

Where’s the harm?

• Many people reject the morality of the Bible.
• They see themselves as being a better judge of what is right and wrong.
• Often, it’s a question of seeing the harm in a particular activity.

What could possibly go wrong?

II Samuel 11 – David’s sin

II Samuel 11:1

• Where’s the harm in David staying home?
• The moral obligation of God’s word
  • The most common rejection of Biblical morality is failure to do what God requires.
  • People just don’t see the need.
  • They see no harm in failing to act.
  • Therefore, they feel no responsibility.
  • No harm, no foul, no guilt.

II Samuel 11:11

• When you’re not with the Lord’s people, you are missed!
• The harm in failing to do good
  • The danger of idleness, II Samuel 11:2
  • Failure to set a good example, II Samuel 11:4
  • Failure to be grateful, II Samuel 12:7
  • Failure to be content, II Samuel 12:8

II Samuel 11:2

• Where’s the harm?
  • Matthew 5:28 – It’s already harmful!

II Samuel 11:3

• Where’s the harm?
  • Proverbs 4:14-15 – Avoid the harm at the beginning!

II Samuel 11:4 – David commits adultery

• Where’s the harm?

II Samuel 11:5 – Bathsheba is pregnant by David

• Is this the only harm?
• Is it enough to avoid this outcome?
• If we can avoid this, is it okay?

II Samuel 11:6-9

• It’s hard to manage consequences.
• Too much is outside our control!

II Samuel 11:13

• We can’t control other people.

II Samuel 11:14-15 – David conspires to murder Uriah

• Sin takes us places we never imagined we would go.
• We often do evil to avoid trouble, but we only cause more.

II Samuel 11:17

• The harm of sin
  • It comes even if we don’t see it.
  • It comes no matter how hard we try to avoid it.
  • It comes to people we had no intention of harming.

II Samuel 11:26-27

• Does “getting away with it” mean there’s no harm?
• “the thing … displeased the Lord” – The world does not recognize this harm, but it’s the worst.

II Samuel 12:9

• If it is evil in God’s eyes, it really is evil.

II Samuel 12:10

• A moment of pleasure often leads to a lifetime of pain.

II Samuel 12:11

The harm that David could foresee

• David’s character was stained
• A marriage was violated

The harm that David could not foresee

• Joab’s integrity was compromised
• Several innocent men were murdered
• A child lost his life
• David’s family was thrown into turmoil
• Two of his sons would be murdered
• The nation was plunged into civil war

But is this all the harm?

• II Samuel 12:13 – How could God take away sin? Isaiah 53:5
• When you have a chance to commit sin, look to the cross!

Where’s the harm?

• Many reject the morality of the Bible
• They cannot see the harm in what the Bible calls sin
• But we are woefully incapable of making such determinations

Where’s the solution?

• We must follow God’s will.
• It will keep up from true harm.
• He will deliver us from the harm of our sins by bearing them Himself.