of your presence of our father's face shining upon us that I direct you now to 2 Samuel 2 Samuel chapter 11 tonight 2 Samuel chapter 11 dear friends in this time together this evening we will look at 2 Samuel chapter 11 beginning at verse 6 and we will conclude tonight at verse 13 2 Samuel chapter 11 verse 6 down to the end of verse 13 Beloved, I have titled this evening's sermon, The Cover-Up, The Cover-Up Operation. 2 Samuel chapter 11, verse six, I'm sorry, yes, verse six. Friends, the word of God says, so David sent word to Joab, send me Uriah the Hittite, and Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing, how the people were doing and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, go down to your house and wash your feet. And Uriah went out of the king's house and there followed him a present from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his Lord and did not go down to his house. When they told David, Uriah did not go down to his house. David said to Uriah, have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house? Uriah said to David, the ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as you live and as your soul lives? I will not do this thing. Then David said to Uriah, remain here today also and tomorrow I will send you back. So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next and David invited him and he ate in his presence and drank so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his Lord, but he did not go down to his house. Beloved, this is the Word of God. Thanks be to God. Let's pray. Our Father, we thank you for your Word. We pray, help us now by your Spirit to understand this text, to see the fall of David, Lord, and to see our own remaining corruption, but to rest in your sovereign grace. Dear Father, help us now, we pray, for Christ's sake, amen. Well, friend, last time we were together, we looked at David's affair. Remember David, his sin progression or regression began with his dereliction of duty. David was the king that God appointed. He was a mediator, the mediator that God gave to his people through whom the reign of redemption and the administration of mercy of the Lord God might come to the people of God. So David has a high and holy calling. But remember, the king of Israel is to be the vice-regent of the Lord of hosts. That is, the Lord God is the king of Israel. He is the king of his people, and he appoints the king to minister, to serve, to reign in his stead. So from the king of Israel is to be an example of godliness, of love and faithfulness, and one who is eagerly discharging his duty in leading the people. So remember the context. David has decided to commission Joab to go and sort of continue the campaign against the Ammonites. Remember, Rabba is now being besieged. That is the great city of Ammonites. Ammon is a small nation. Think in your mind the modern nation of Jordan. Think of the capital city of Jordan, which is Ammon, right? And that comes from the same group of people, the Ammonites. And that is about where Rabba is. So it's known as the city of waters. It's an impregnable citadel. It's rich with trade that's come in and out of that city state and out of that small nation. so they're able to hold out against a long siege. So David has sent Joab to basically to demoralize and to bring down the Ammonite army and they've surrounded and encircled the city of Rava. So David thinks, well, the operation is in Joab's hands, it's all underway, I will just stay home. So springtime comes and remember David is taking a leisurely nap when All of a, then he comes out and he looks out over his balcony and his high palace and he notices a woman bathing and she was very beautiful. Now remember friends, the sin of David was not in that he saw this beautiful woman bathing. The sin was not in the sight, but it was in the lingering, right? Remember Bathsheba was washing, she was bathing, this was not a mood affair, she was cleansing herself from her monthly flow, and she is washing herself that she might be ceremonially clean and be able to assemble with God's people. David has gotten up from his nap, but friends again, David, as he sees Bathsheba, That's where we saw the sin began. Remember, friends, sin, though the temptation can come from without, friends, sin emerges from within, within the soil of the wicked human heart, within that remnant of fallen humanness within us. Remember how James describes it. It's like a woman with child, that idea to sin, that desire to commit the adultery, longing, that attraction that David has to have Bathsheba. It was birthed in his heart. It was conceived in his mind before he put it into action with his hands. So remember, that's the progression of sin in our lives. It always begins in the interior man. And so, friends, we're praying and asking God, the Holy Spirit, to come and change this heart, to direct our affections away from the darkness and toward the light. So David commits himself on this course, finds out it's Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his mighty men. not heeding the warnings that have come from the Lord, he decides to commit himself to this course. So he calls Bathsheba, she comes to the court, she comes to his royal chambers, and he, using his position as the king, is able to have his affair with her. And so she leaves, and it looks like everything's been sort of concealed, right? It's all gonna be pushed under the rug until Bathsheba gives the announcement. David, I'm pregnant, and you're the father. Well, what happens in verse six is the covering. Now, we see, friends, that sin begets sin. And in our lives, friends, one sin begets another. almost often leads to another. If that sin is not mortified, if we do not confess it to the Lord, if it is not rooted out, as it were, it grows and it sprouts, and just like a dandelion in the field, in our lawn, that will produce even more sin. So we're seeing the sporing of sin in the life of David. We're seeing it multiplying because, friends, instead of coming clean, Instead of confessing his sin to God, confessing his sin to Uriah and before the people, David sets himself on a course of deception, on a cover-up. And so his plan begins by summoning Uriah back from the field. Verse six, remember Uriah is leading the mighty men. He's a captain or he's one of the mighty men, but he's leading the company of, one of the companies of the Israelite army. So remember, he's like a, he's like a captain or even something like a colonel, right? many men that served with him. So David says to Joab, Joab, send Uriah the Hittite to me. He needs an excuse to get Uriah off the field and back home. Why? Well, David knows biology. David realizes it takes nine months for a child to be conceived and to be born. So if he's going to try to make like this child that Bathsheba has is really Uriah, He's got to make sure that Uriah is back in town, so that as they're intimate together, David can say, oh, that's not my child. That's really Uriah. So again, he's trying to cover this up. But he's got to get Uriah home off the field. But he needs an excuse. So what is his excuse? Uriah is going to give him a battlefield report. So right now, friends, everything seems above board. Uncommon, it's not in any way, you know, out of protocol for the king to ask how the war's going for one of his trusted soldiers. And so Uriah comes and he is everything of a model soldier and, friends, of a godly man. Notice the godliness of Uriah contrasted with the ungodliness of David. Uriah comes in verse seven, and David asks him how Joab's going. How's the general? And Uriah most likely replies, he's doing well. The battle continues. We're pressing our advantage, trying to bring the city of Rabbah to its knees. David also asks how the people are, how the war was going. Well, after all of the details are taken care of, David gets down to what he really wants to do. Remember, he's trying to deceive Uriah. He's trying to, sort of cover up for his misdeeds, to cover up his adultery. So he's going to try to get Uriah to go home, go see Uriah. And notice how he explains it, right? David says to Uriah, go down to your house and wash your feet. Uriah, you've been such a good soldier. You've been so loyal and faithful out there on the front lines. You know what, you deserve Uriah. Uriah, you deserve some R&R. You deserve some rest and relaxation. You need to spend some time. Put your feet up, go visit your wife. Enjoy spending time with her. And furthermore, let me send you a present. So do you see the deception? Sin begets sin. The Proverbs says, this is the way of the adulterous. She eats, wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wrong. That is, the way of sin is that the sinner commits the iniquity, conceals his misdeeds, and professes his innocence. Friends, again, we are seeing the descent of David into darkness. And that reminds us once again that friends, even believers, you and I as Christians, even those who have been born again of the Holy Spirit can fall into sin, even grievous sin, and by our sinning, we may even add to those transgressions and heap up guilt in that course. So friends, again, on the one hand, we remember that David is a man after God's own heart, but right now, he is walking the way of the fool. He's walking the way of the adulterer. He's walking the way of the liar and the slanderer, of the man deceiver. And so we're seeing David's ungodly behavior. Now friends, again, let's contrast that with Christ. Remember, David acts as a foil for us. David shows us in his virtue, the virtue of Christ, the righteousness of Christ. It's a pale imitation, but it's pointing to the glory of King Jesus and his perfectly righteous reign over his church. But there's another way in which David points us to Christ, and that is in the contrast. We may compare him in his virtue to Christ, but we may contrast his vice with the perfection of the Savior. Friends, we know that Jesus himself was one who spoke the truth, one who could stand before the crowds and say, which one of you, my hearers, convicts me of sin? Jesus lived his entire life never shading the truth. never seeking to manipulate others by his words or deed. Jesus was one who said what he meant and meant what he said. He was one whose speech was eminently trustworthy. So friends, application. Let's check our own speech. Friends, is our speech full of grace, seasoned with salt? Is our speech true and upright? Are we using our speech in a way that is holy and acceptable to God? Let us ask the Lord to examine our hearts. Let us come to God's word and see that our speech might be a godly, Christ-honoring speech, that we're not gossips or busybodies, that we're not those who have bite-biting tongues, those who may be using our words to destroy. But friends, let us ask the Father to give us Christ-like speech that we might grow up into the likeness of King Jesus. So we see David's deception. So Uriah, there's a present going, probably some good food and some other amenities to help him enjoy his night with his wife. Well, it doesn't work. The plot of David fails, why? Because verse nine, Uriah doesn't go down to his house. Instead, he sleeps at the king's door. So again, the sense is probably not that he just was in front of the front door, but the idea is that he was in the servants' chambers that were before the front door of the king. So if you can imagine a king's palace and there would be quarters for the servants and those quarters outside the king's front door, ready to go in and attend and serve him, that's probably where Uriah is. So instead of going down to his house, he, as it were, bunks with the servants and puts out a little pallet, puts out his mat, and there's where he sleeps. Well, David is hoping that he would go down to his house instead. Well, the courtiers who kind of know a little bit of what's going on and are probably in on it with David, they give him word, verse 10, Uriah did not go down to his house. And David summons Uriah. Why didn't you go down to your house, Uriah? Again, do you see David's failed plot? So that didn't work. So he calls Uriah in, and again, he's using his words to deceive. He's using his relationship with Uriah to sort of work and maneuver Uriah. And so he says, Uriah, why didn't you go down to your house? You came from a long journey. Why did you not go down there? David is saying, I gave you a wonderful present. Time away. So many of your fellow soldiers of Israel would love to have had a night like this, to have a time away to be with their families. And Uriah replies, how could I do that? He says, the ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are camping in the open field. So friends, again, Uriah sees himself as still on duty. David may have been taking it easy and abandoning his duty and shirking his responsibilities at this point, but we see that Uriah is not. Again, remember who Uriah is. He is Uriah the Hittite. The Hittites are a foreign people from Syria. They are a people who are foreigners to the covenants of promise. They are foreigners to the word of God, yet God, in his great mercy, is calling sinners to himself. Remember, friends, in the Old Testament, we still see the missional heart of God, how he loves sinners and is redeeming a people for himself from every tribe and tongue and nation. And though his missionary activity, his witness, his concentrating, In the nation of Israel, friends, we see many occasions where foreigners are crafted in, Gentiles are brought into the family of God. We think of Nahum of Assyria. We think of Rahab, the Canaanite harlot. We think of Ruth, the Moabitess. And here we see Uriah the Hittite. So again, friends, this is a man who loves the Lord. a man who is passionate about his God and this country that he was not born an Israelite, but now he's become one of God's covenant people. You know, friends, we talk of that certain pride that many of our immigrant parents had when they came to America, how they were so proud that they were able to come and settled themselves in this new land, the United States, this land of the free and home of the brave. That was a mark of great pride because now they were endeavoring together with their fellow Americans for this great project of building a nation. Well, friends, again, that's the sense of Uriah. He loves the people of God. He loves the Lord. He's passionate for the glory of God. He says, it was such a burden to me, that I should be given such a great gift when I was still on duty, I was still called to serve. And he says to David, my Lord, I just couldn't do it. I couldn't put up my feet and relax because the ark of the Lord was in a tent, Joab was in a tent, the people of God are in tents. There is still work that needs to be done. Friends, Uriah therefore stands for us an example of godly industry, of zeal for the Lord and an eagerness to labor for the glory of God. Uriah understands that he has a duty as a soldier, as one who is a... a believer, he's called to continue to labor while it is day. And friends, again, that is the same attitude that our God calls us to. Christ has commanded us to be those laborers who are going about their work, being diligent day by day, for we do not know when our Lord is coming, whether he comes at noon day or at midnight. We must be found working. So let us ask God, the Holy Spirit, to give us that same zeal. Now, friends, again, there are times for rest. There are times to spend time with our family. Uriah's not saying that those things are bad. He's just saying, King David, that's not the time now. This is a time for war, not a time for peace. peace and rest. So friends, let us ask the Lord to give us discernment to know those seasons and to honor Christ with our work. And so David says, okay, well, verse 12, remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back. David understands he can't argue with Uriah. He can't argue with the godly. You can't argue with his wise counsel. David has no real reply to make. You know, you rise a good soldier and you rise a godly man. And he loves the Lord and he loves his people too much just to put up his feet and take it easy. So David says, okay, well, you rise if that's what you want. You stay here today also, and tomorrow you'll be headed back to the front lines. And so Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. So in the second day, David tries another tact. David invites him to his presence. Presumably it's a banquet. And while they're feasting together and eating, David just continues to pour the drinks. and pass them around, and he begins to insist that Uriah continue to drink, and so as we see, Uriah continues to drink unto the point that Uriah becomes drunk. Now friends, again, the scriptures tell us that do not be drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Friends, again and again, the admonition of scripture is that drunkenness is what the Lord has called us not to, right? He has called us to have a clear mind. He's called us to not be weighed down by it. And at the same time, friends, We are reminded in scriptures that wine gladdens the heart. And we see that Jesus even blesses those who are the wedding guests at Cana by providing for them good wine to drink. So this wasn't bottom shelf stuff. This was top shelf wine that we see Christ prepared for the wedding guests, for the big party that was there in Canaan. And it was an ample amount. It was not just a little thimble full or a little taste. And so friends, again, we see Jesus in his blessing of the wedding. We see that the scriptures are again saying that, you know, as we enjoy this with self-control, as we enjoy wine with thanksgiving to God, in Christ Jesus, that it is something that we can enjoy by his grace and to his glory. But we are warned that just like any other good gift, friends, that good gift can be abused. It can be used in such a way that we don't give glory to God, but that we find ourselves falling into idolatry. And that's basically what happens in drunkenness is that Drink becomes an idol, it becomes a god, rather than a good gift to enjoy with Thanksgiving to him. So, what's going on? Well, friends, we see David, again, he tries to deceive Uriah. He's trying to manipulate Uriah. And he does this now with the use of alcohol. And we see that he makes Uriah discontinue to drink to the point where he is inebriated. Friends, we know what David's trying to do. He's trying to get Uriah's judgment to fall, right? He's trying to lower Uriah's inhibitions so that hopefully, perhaps, Uriah will say, well, I guess I will think I'm off duty and I will take advantage of the king's offer and I'll go down to my house and I will go and be with my wife. Again, this is David's desperate attempt to manipulate Uriah into being with Bathsheba, but the effect is the same. Uriah just stumbles back to his mat and falls asleep. And there he lies on his couch with the servants of the Lord, but he did not go down to his house. Well, friends, sin begets sin. In the Christian life, we see that friends that even the greatest of saints can fall into great and grievous sins. And in our next time together, we'll see that David moves from simply trying to manipulate Uriah and work him in a place where he will help him cover up his misdeeds. We see that David sets himself on a course of murder and will order Joab to put his loyal servant, soldier, and friend Uriah to death. Well, for instance, again, contrast Uriah, contrast David. Uriah was a man who loved the Lord, who was passionate for the glory of God, who was endeavoring to be faithful to the Lord because he realized his calling and his privilege. David, though, was engrossed in his sin. And as he remained obstinate and defying the Lord, seeking to cover up his iniquity, we saw that that sin continued to grow and to multiply. So friends, again, John Owen gives the wonderful admonition in his book, The Mortification of Sin. He says, be killing sin, else it will be killing you. And we see in the book of Romans that Paul, writing as an apostle, says that we are to put to death sin that is within us, that there's a daily killing operation where, by the Holy Spirit, we're not only confessing our sin before God, but asking Christ to change, asking God to mold, to shape, to direct our affections away from worthless things and back to Him. And friends, it's not something that we can take time off with. It's a daily endeavor by God's Holy Spirit. Friends, not only are we putting off the old man, but remember, we are putting something in its place. We're putting on Christ and His righteousness. We're pursuing Him and His glory. We're setting our heart to love Him and enjoy Him. Because friends, as we draw near to the Lord and are satisfied in Him, we will find that the attraction of sin begins to wane. Friends, it is as we are drawing near to the Lord and enjoying Him that we see truly how vain these idols are and how profitless this sin really is. One illustration might be this. Friends, you may have read Greek mythology. And in Greek mythology, there is the island of the sirens, the island of the sirens. And you know those sirens, they sing beautiful songs. They sound like very beautiful, lovely, kind women. And they sing from this island and they lure sailors to take that ship and to go toward the island. But unbeknownst to the sailors, there are rocks and the ship will run aground and be broken to pieces. And these sirens are really these women who are part women, part birds, and they come and they destroy and devour these wayward sailors. And so we see that those sirens are a very good illustration for sin. But friends, in Greek mythology, there was one named Jason, and you may remember Jason of the Argonauts, and he's sailing past the Isle of the Sirens, and he knows that this danger's coming. He knows that the sirens will sing their song, and that melody will come to his ears and to the ears of his sailors, and so what does he do? He summons one of his sailors to sing, a sailor who is particularly renowned for his beautiful singing voice. And so as the sirens begin to sing, The sailors are captivated by a more beautiful melody, by a song ever more sweet and good and attractive than any song sung by the herpes. Friend, that is what Christ is to us and the gospel. He is that sweet melody that we need to hear. His grace, His goodness, His love for us, that is the song the Father sings to us by His Spirit so that when that tune of temptation comes, friends, our hearts are already captivated by something better, by something more lovely, more good. Friends, that's an essential part of mortification. It's not simply confessing and killing and doing away with, though that is essential. Something better, something more beautiful must be in its place. And that's why Paul will talk about putting off the old man and putting on the new man. So dear friends, I pray this week that we are recognizing the battle against sin, that it is a fierce one, that we recognize that sin's dominion has been broken, its power has been broken, It's been said, friends, Christ has delivered us from the penalty of sin. If you're in Christ Jesus, you are no longer under the wrath of God, but your sin, past, present, and future has been paid for in full. You've been delivered from the penalty of sin, but you've also been rescued from the power of sin. You can have victory in Christ Jesus. that this struggle with sin, though it is ongoing, still means that as a Christian, you can find a measure of victory over the sin that is within. Whatever that proclivity might be, whatever those habitual patterns might be, friends, God is saying in Christ Jesus, the power of sin has been broken and you can enjoy a degree of freedom in Christ Jesus. And God promises that though the battle continues, the war has been won, and one day you will be delivered from the presence of sin." And that's the great joy, friends. That's the great hope. That's what we anticipate and long for every moment, that one day our hearts would love the Lord completely and purely and truly, and that there will never, ever be any attraction for us to sin. but that Christ would be the sole Son and desire of our hearts. So friends, let us wait for that with joyful anticipation. Let us depend upon the Father's mercy and let us encourage one another in our fight against sin. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your great mercy to us. Lord, help us. and this week to come to turn from sin, but Lord, to turn to Christ. Oh Spirit, we pray, please cause us to meditate upon your word, to remember your gospel. Lord, we pray that you'd help us to remember our identity in Christ as those who have been set free. Oh Lord, free to a higher calling, a better future. Lord, a home with you. Father, we pray, help us we ask in Christ's name.