Our reading tonight is to be found in 2 Samuel 11, and we'll read verses 1 through to verse 5. 2 Samuel 11, verse 1 through to verse 5. Let us hear God's word. And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass, in an even tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman, And one said, is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Elam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in unto him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness. And she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. Amen. May God bless the reading of his word. As we saw a few weeks ago, David was known as a man of prayer, chapter 7. He was also known as the sweet psalmist of Israel, the one raised up and anointed of God, 2 Samuel 23, verse 1. However, he's sadly known as well as one who committed adultery with Bathsheba. On a particular day, as it drew on, he saw her washing herself. As we noted there, she was a beautiful lady. We read in Psalm 144, verse 12, a cornerstone polished after the solitude of a palace. A natural beauty, as we see in Psalm 144, as we see also here in 2 Samuel 11. She was beautiful. What David observed, and that she was washing herself. However, instead of quickly turning away his eye, he gazed longer and now under temptation yielded to sin. As we shall see tonight, he lusted after her in his own heart and in time invited her near and lay with her and so committed physical adultery. He should have followed Joseph's example. You remember when Potiphar's wife desired Joseph to lie with her, he refused and said, recorded for us in Genesis 39 verse 8 and 9, Behold, my master, what of not what is with me in the house? And he hath committed all that he hath to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I. Neither have he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He turned and he went. And he did this again and again, day after day, as we see in Genesis chapter 39. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He went the other direction. He fled. That is exactly what David should have done. But sadly tonight, we see that David, having that lust in his heart, went further and made his advance. In Proverbs 4, verse 23, we read, keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Keep thy heart with all diligence. Such a guard, such a concern, such diligence. Last Lorsday morning, we consider those words, set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips. And we would go further, not only a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, not only keep the door of my lips, but Lord, keep also my eyes and my heart. That's to be our prayer. Now adultery here was seen in the physical act, but let's not overlook there was that adultery in David's heart. He lusted after Bathsheba and he yielded to temptation. Sadly, many attempted in this day and yield to temptation. In this, the 21st century, there's an increasing number getting caught up in adultery. And sadly, in the Church of Jesus Christ, this is so. Affairs are taking place, physical affairs, but increasingly, since the turn of the century, we're told emotional affairs, the affairs in the heart, and that is the most common form of adultery in the church. This year alone, I know of at least 10 individuals caught up in adultery. and only three of them are unbelievers. Seven, I know, and I'm so thankful there's no one here, and that's how I always wanted to remain. But I know of seven Christians in this country caught up in adultery, all in different situations, all in difficulties at this very time. Earlier in the year, I was shocked to hear some dear friends of mine And they found themselves in this situation. Christians are not immune. And we as the Lord's people, we come to such a passage tonight to be a help to us, that we might keep our hearts with all diligence. Marriage is under attack. We've seen that in our own country, haven't we, last year? How the government redefined marriage. Marriage is under attack. Many in this world will seek to attack marriage and then consider further, Satan, he hates marriage. And dear brethren, those of you who are married, remember this, Satan hates your marriage, because you are those who love the Lord. He hates especially the marriages of believers. Satan wants the marriages of believers to get into trouble, and so he will tempt. Dear brethren, we must constantly be on our guard. We must recognize this. Satan hates marriage. We need to be careful. But let's consider further at this point, our own hearts. In James 1, verse 13 to verse 14, we read, let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed. We can think of the world, we can think of Satan. Oh, there's an ally with him in our own hearts. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed. Oh, we need to be so careful. There is indwelling sin that can entice us. There's something so near to our hearts John, just one look at something on the television screen and we can be enticed in our hearts. We are not perfect. There is corruption within. And dear brethren, at times we will find ourselves in a war and we need to turn away. In Romans 7 verse 20 we read, Now if I do that, I would not. It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death. There was a battle with him. David found himself in a battle. He lusted after Bathsheba. Oh, that he had battled hard and that he had fled that situation. Dear brethren, there may be temptations come your way. You need to battle hard. You need to stand your ground. Suddenly a lust, a sinful desire appears and Satan may whisper, go forward, do this, do that. Entertain that unclean thought, entertain that lust. Now adultery, not only is it a sin, but also can cause great hurt to the spouse and to the children. And there have been wives who have been greatly hurt by unfaithful husbands, and so the children. But let's consider the other way around. Husbands have been greatly hurt by unfaithful wives, and so the children. And what pain it causes. I tell you this, there are many families who know pain within. And sadly, even in this country at this present time, and I'm so glad I'm not speaking of anyone here, but I know of cases where there are families who are hurting, children who are hurting this very year and this very time. What pain it causes. Consider the emotional affair. In certain circumstances, it can ebb and flow for years. Because there's no physical act, it can go on for years. And many hours of pain, certain wives have suffered. Well, we come to consider this time in the life of David. I'd like us to make a start tonight, and then the Lord willing, we'll finish this look at this time in the life of David next week but as we come to these verses here before us I'd like us to consider first of all the look secondly the advance thirdly the sin and then fourthly the concealment and we note the concealment from verse four full wet. Well, let's consider first of all tonight the look. Come with me to verse two. And it came to pass in even tide that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. There was this natural beauty as we considered earlier. Beauty. Now listen here to the Reverend John Brown of Haddington commenting on the word beauty. Speaks of comeliness, fineness of appearance. Now the word beauty was used for Absalom. In 2 Samuel 14, over the page in verse 25, we read this, but in all Israel, there was none to be so praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him. He was handsome. The Hebrew word can be translated handsome or beauty. Matthew Henry wrote of Absalom, there was that he was a handsome man, there was not his equal in all Israel for beauty. And so we recognize the beauty of Absalom and we recognize that there are handsome young men and there are beautiful ladies. This is recognized, but all one must be careful of a sinful looking. David observed and observed her washing. However, instead of quickly turning away his eye, he gazed longer now under temptation and yielded to sin. And if you follow this passage through here, we see that he committed adultery in his heart before there was a physical act. That's where it began. He looked and he did not turn away his eyes, he should have done. A temptation presented itself to David. and he yielded to it. And there were the thoughts coming in his heart as he lusted after Bathsheba, all to get closer and to be close. Now our Lord said in Matthew 5 verse 28, but I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her have committed adultery with her already in his heart. Now it's important there to note those words of our Lord. Let me read them to you again. That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her. So we see plainly there the sinful look. Looking on to lust. Now the Greek word, which is translated here as lust, means to set the heart upon, to long for, to covet, to desire in a sinful way. The heart is set on. And that's why we use certain words, this emotional affair, it's in the heart. This affair, the heart is set upon. David sinfully set his heart on Bathsheba. We're told in Proverbs 4 verse 23. Keep thy heart with all diligence. Keep it. Guard it. But here David was slack. He wasn't keeping. He wasn't guarding. Be careful with your eyes. Keep your heart guarded. Remember this, your eyes are the windows of your soul. Your eyes are the windows of your soul. There's a close connection. We fought last laws, they have the tongue and there's a close connection between the tongue and the heart, isn't it? One can speak in the heart and those words can proceed. Yes, at times one can deceive, but at times the words proceed and it shows for the heart, the eyes are the windows of the soul. Watch your eyes. When someone comes down the street, be careful. When something comes on the television screen, watch your eyes. On the computer, be on your guard. A temptation can suddenly flash itself before you on the screen. Look a little longer. We need to turn away our eyes. Job 31 verse 1, I made a covenant with mine eyes. Why then should I think upon a maid? A covenant. Think of a covenant there, a solemn and sworn compact. We'll make this covenant before the Lord with your eyes. It's interesting there, isn't it? I made a covenant with my eyes. We're reasoning with our hearts. We're reasoning with ourselves before the Lord. We're making a promise before the Lord. Why then should I think upon a maid? Notice that there, Job thinks of the looking and the thinking, the connection there. I made a covenant with mine eyes. Why then should I think upon a maid? Here's David, he looks and he thinks. See the danger? He was looking and he began to think and it was a sinful thought. Keep thy heart with all diligence. Now, one more thing before we move on. Bathsheba, to begin with, was not aware of David looking on her with a lustful eye. Bathsheba, to begin with, wasn't aware. And that's how it can be. Some are not aware. Well, let's consider secondly the advance, verse three and verse four, the advance. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, is not this Bathsheba the daughter of Elam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? Now consider David had already lusted after her. Or if he only now just turned away, backed off. However, this was not the case. He should have gone the other way. He should have backed off, gone in a different direction. But no, he makes his advance. And we see that in verse 3 and verse 4. He makes inquiry after Bathsheba and he's told who she is. And then verse 4, David sent messengers and took her. See there the advance. Dear congregation, one can have lust in their heart and then make advances. They want to be with that person. Spend time with that person. In an emotional affair, where it goes not to the physical, in an emotional affair, one looks forward to spending time with that person more than their spouse. One enjoys so much their company. Advances are made. Questions can arise in the mind, how can I spend more time with that person? Could I be alone with that person? Consider a growing problem in this 21st century, and that is emotional affairs through the internet, and that is a growing problem. It has soared in America. Since the turn of the century, this has become such a problem, and Christians are not immune. The internet can be a good tool, but there is danger. One can be drawn into immoral pictures. And we hear of this happening again and again. Conversations can begin and continue through the internet. And consider the mobile phone, the text messages can be passed often where there's an emotional affair and it's growing and growing. There is the advance. David made his advance. It's all here, isn't it? One thing that really has struck me with this passage, you can read modern things on this whole subject, and it's all here in this first part of 2 Samuel 11. There was a lust in the heart, there was the look, and then there was the advance. Oh, that David had run. 1 Corinthians 6 verse 18, flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." One needs to say no. One needs to be like Joseph. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Remember, Joseph's such a godly man, yet this temptation came before him. And even the most godly can have this temptation come before them. They must do like Joseph and say no. And you know all too well in the life of Joseph, it was day after day. And there may be for some Christian, this battle with this particular temptation, day after day, they must not give one inch. They must run. They must say no in every occasion. Where there is the advances like Potiphar's wife, No. How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? So many are caught up with immoral things on the Internet. No. And if one cannot control the Internet, the computer has to go. That's the only answer, isn't it? In that situation. I heard the other day of a couple, and this man had been married for 41 years. Rather 31 years, let me get that correct. 31 years, but he'd been caught up with pornography on the internet. And now he's left his wife after 31 years because of a problem through the internet. It's a growing problem in America, and it's a growing problem in this country. There's the advances. The answer is no. Thirdly, let's consider the sin. We've already touched on this, but let's consider the sin of adultery. David, a married man, committed adultery with a married lady. The commandment, thou shalt not commit adultery. Yet that commandment is being broken all over the world, and particularly in the West. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Think of the meaning of adultery. It is that intimate activity between a man and a woman where at least one of them is married. In the case of David and Bathsheba, both were married. In Leviticus 20, verse 10, we read, in the man that committed adultery with another man's wife, even he that committed adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. You see that connection? Adultery is that intimate activity between a man and a woman. We can think of the physical side, but our Lord brings this out further and speaks of the sin of the heart. Speaking of the sins of Jerusalem in Ezekiel 16, verse 32, but as a wife that commit of adultery, which take of strangers instead of her husband. So then when we think of adultery, at least one is married. One is unfaithful. One is unchaste. There is impurity. There's physical uncleanness, if it goes that far, but then there's the heart uncleanness. In Ephesians 5, verse 3, we read, but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as become of saints. It is so unbecoming. It's so many Christians in America. are involved in emotional affairs and further. So many questions. It's a growing problem in this 21st century. As we mentioned earlier, there's so much attacking marriage in high places and all around. And so many Christians are not saying no. Thomas Watson wrote, we must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness and so making shipwreck our chastity. We must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness and so making shipwreck our chastity. Now adultery is a sin. Thou shalt not commit adultery. We think of the physical particularly, but then think of the act in the heart. There needs to be repentance as well. Dear brethren, there needs to be repentance, but remember there is forgiveness for the true penitent. In a moment, we're going to sing from Psalm 51, and you recall the title of that psalm. to the chief musician, a psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, we're going to look at that next week, after he had gone into Bathsheba. That's the title, the inspired title of Psalm 51. And then how does it begin? Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness. according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out mine transgressions. David there is particularly thinking of that affair he had in the heart and also that physical act and he's pleading for mercy. and there is forgiveness for the true penitent. Verse two, wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee the only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. David is hurt of us. And those who get caught up in adultery hurt others. How many children are weeping tonight in our country because of things that have happened with their parents? It's not just a few, is it? I couldn't believe the other day how many children in this country, and it goes into the tens of the thousands, are classed as homeless. In this country, that's the latest figures. And how many are crying tonight because their dad's gone or their mom's gone, adultery has taken place, the pain it causes. But oh, consider David, he considers, first of all, it was a sin against God. Against thee, the only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. David speaks of it as it ought to be spoken of evil. Whether it be the physical or the heart aspect, evil. The physical affair or the emotional affair is evil. We're fourth in finding tonight. We'll carry on with this next week. The concealment. The concealment. Come with me to verse 4 and verse 5. And she returned unto her house, and the woman conceived, and sent, and told David, and said, I am with child. And then verse six, And David sent to Uriah, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Uriah sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Uriah did. and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, go down to thy house and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, say, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy country? Why didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark and Israel and Judah abide in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Should I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? Is thou livest, and hast thy soul liveth? I will not do this thing. David's concealing there, or attempting to do so. He's seeking to hide it from Uriah. You see, he wants Bathsheba's husband back home to his wife and to their bed in hope of concealment, as we see there in verse 10 and verse 11. Listen to John Gill writing on these verses. In contriving to conceal his sin by sending for a husband home from the army. It could be concealed. It's Uriah's child. But that didn't work out. And as we know all too well, he contrived to have Uriah dead. You see, he was seeking to conceal it from Uriah and from others. There was the cover up. The modern words in light of this subject is secrecy. Concealment, secrecy, the hiding. Often one will seek to cover up what they have done, to keep it secret, like David. In the emotional affair, and it goes no further than just the heart, there is the cover-up. Often the spouse is not aware, not informed. And in the mind of the one who has the emotional affair, there are the excuses, trying to cover it all up. Nothing physical happened, so nothing's really wrong. And so many in America thought like that. Nothing's wrong really because nothing physical has happened. There's excuses, there's a covering up. The concealment. We thought of the internet. The internet can be suddenly turned off when the spouse comes in. The message is cleared away quickly from the phone before the spouse finds out. a hiding, a concealing. And that's here in this chapter, isn't it? We see David seeking to conceal the lust in his heart and the physical act of adultery. He wanted to be able to say, well, it's Zariah's child, but that didn't work out. And so he wanted Uriah dead. So the way was plain and made clear for him. A hiding. And when we think of this subject, when we think of adultery, when we think of physical and emotional affairs, often this concealment comes into play. But one cannot hide from God. And David recognized that later in Psalm 51, against thee the only have I sinned. David fought to conceal it, but he forgotten to look up to God. He knows. David was well aware that the Lord knew, and we'll note this next week, Nathan comes to him, thou art the man he knows, but he will show mercy for the penitent man or woman. And as we conclude, think again of those words of Joseph. He was brought to a situation. There was temptation before his eye day by day, but what does he say? How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? How can I? Or we would think like that when a temptation comes our way. Maybe you're down in the street somewhere. Something comes up on the television screen or on the computer. Somewhere in the community. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? I'm just considering the lust of the heart and no further. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Proverbs 4 verse 23, keep thy heart with all diligence. For out of it are the issues of life. Keep it. Remember, David was a man of prayer. He was the sweet psalmist of Israel, but he was not beyond temptation. May the Lord help us to keep the heart. We need that help, don't we? We know the loss within our souls. We need that help. Lord, keep my heart. But let's also see our own duty. Keep thy heart with all diligence. May the Lord help us to do so. For his name's sake, Amen. Let us stand for prayer.