January 21, 2024 – 2 Samuel 12

Lesson Date: January 21, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 12:1-24

AIM: To lead students to discover the reasons David sinned and some of the costs of his sins, and to encourage any who have never placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation to do so.

Before class: Read the notes on 2 Samuel 12 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Enlist some volunteers to look up the following verses and be prepared to read them to the class when called upon: Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 3:18.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask: “Have you ever sinned?” (yes, we all have).  Tell the students that the Bible makes it clear that we are all sinners, when it says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Ask: “Why do we sin?” (we want to do something God doesn’t want us to do, we think it will make us happy, we think we can get away with it, and we think we deserve it).  Ask: “Don’t answer out loud, but after you sinned, were there any bad consequences; in other words, have your sins ever cost you anything?” (yes, our sins always hurt us and others).

Ask: “Last week we studied 2 Samuel 11; what happened in that chapter?” (David’s lust led him to steal another man’s wife, commit adultery, lie to try to “cover his tracks,” and murder one of his most trusted soldiers).  Read the last sentence of 2 Samuel 11:27, which says, “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”  Ask: “Did David ‘get away with’ his sins?” (no).

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is Costs of David’s Sins.  Write that lesson title as a header across the top of the board.  Tell them today we will discover the reasons David sinned and some of the immediate and future costs of his sins.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Costs of Lust; we learned about the costs of David’s lust and some ways to defend ourselves against lust.
   • Ask if any volunteers would recite last week’s memory verses (James 1:14-15 and Galatians 5:16).
2. Nathan Confronted David About His Sins.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 12:1-3.
   • Tell the class that God sent the prophet Nathan to talk to David; Nathan told David a story.
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, what did the rich man own?” (huge flocks and herds).
   • Ask: “According to verse 3, what did the poor man own?” (one little lamb, which was almost like a child to him).
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:4-6.
   • Ask: “What did the rich man do when he needed to feed his guest?” (he spared all of his sheep but stole the poor man’s lamb, cooked it, and served it to his guest).
   • Stress the fact that the rich man had “exceeding many flocks,” but rather give up one of his many sheep, he stole the poor man’s one and only lamb.
   • Ask: “According to verse 5, how did David react to this story?” (he became very angry).
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did he say should be done to the rich man?” (he should restore the stolen lamb fourfold, after which he should be put to death).
   • Tell the class that Nathan’s story (which was patterned after David’s selfish and sinful behavior) aroused David’s sympathy and revealed the wickedness of his deed.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 12:7-9.
   • Explain the following:
     • After telling the story of the selfish rich man, Nathan told David he was that rich man.
     • David had many wives, but he stole the only wife Uriah had.
     • Not only that, but David was so selfish that he killed Uriah rather than admit his guilt.
     • Nathan bravely confronted his king about his sins.
   • Ask: “Look back at verses 7 and 8; what were some of the things the Lord had done for David?” (He anointed him king over Israel, delivered him many times from murderous Saul, gave him everything that was Saul’s, and made him ruler over all Israel and Judah).
   • Stress the fact that God had done many wonderful things for David.
   • Ask: “Have you ever wondered why David committed such terrible sins against the Lord who had done so many wonderful things for him? Have you ever wondered why WE commit sins against God who has been so good to us?”
   • Tell the class the answer to both questions is found in verse 9.
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:9
   • Explain the following:
     • God said David “despised” His commandments.
     • We use the word “despised” to speak of hatred, but the biblical meaning of despised is to disesteem, take lightly, or think little of something.
     • David sinned because he didn’t think God’s commandments forbidding murder and adultery were important enough to obey.
     • Also, David thought his desires were more important than the needs of others (v. 4).
   • Summarize: Nathan bravely confronted David about his sins. David sinned because he didn’t think God’s commands applied to him or were important enough to obey.
3. Future Costs of David’s Sins.
   • Direct everyone’s attention to the lesson title written on the board, telling them that next we will learn about some of the costs of David’s sins.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 12:10.
   • Ask: “What’s the first thing God said would be the cost of David’s sin?” (the sword would never leave David’s house).
   • Write this on the board, telling the students that violence and bloodshed plagued David’s family for generations to come.
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:11.
   • Ask: “What does the first part of verse 11 say would be another cost of David’s sin?” (evil would arise against David from within his own house).
   • Write this on the board, telling the class that rebellion against David would arise from within his own family (this prophecy will be fulfilled in chapter 15).
   • Ask: “What does the rest of verse 11 say would be another cost of David’s sin?” (God would give David’s wives to another man who would publicly defile them).
   • Write this on the board, telling the students this prophecy will be fulfilled in chapter 16.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 12:12.
   • Ask: “What would be another cost of David’s sin?” (David’s supposedly “secret” sins would be revealed to everyone).
   • Write this on the board.
   • Stress the fact that there are no “secret” sins: God knows all about them and others will eventually find out, too.
   • Summarize: The Lord revealed the future costs of David’s sins, including bloodshed, rebellion, and public disgrace.
4. David Confessed His Sins.
   • Ask: “What is our first natural reaction when confronted with something we have done wrong?” (either to deny it, excuse it, blame others, or try to justify our behavior).
   • Tell the class verse 13 reveals how David responded when confronted about his sins.
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:13.
   • Ask: “What did David say?” (“I have sinned against the Lord”).
   • Stress the fact that David honestly admitted his sin; this is the correct way to respond when confronted about our sin.
   • Tell the students the rest of verse 13 reveals that God graciously forgave David’s sin and mercifully spared him from death.
   • Summarize: When confronted about his sins, David immediately and contritely confessed.
5. Immediate Cost of David’s Sins.
   • Tell the class that two more costs of David’s sins are found in the next verses.
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:14.
   • Ask: “What does the first half of verse 14 say was another cost of David’s sin?” (David’s behavior gave God’s enemies cause to blaspheme and ridicule the Lord).
   • Write this on the board, telling the students that whenever we sin, we bring reproach upon the name of Jesus and give God’s enemies occasion to make fun of Him and His followers.
   • Ask: “What does the last half of verse 14 say was another cost of David’s sin?” (the child born of David’s sin with Bathsheba would die).
   • Write this on the board, telling the class this was an immediate cost of David’s sin.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 2 Samuel 12:15.
   • Explain the following:
     • The Lord struck the baby sick (v. 15).
     • David fasted and prayed earnestly that God might spare his child (v. 16-17).
     • On the seventh day, the baby died (v. 18).
     • After the baby died, David washed himself, put on clean clothing, and worshiped the Lord (v. 20).
     • David realized he could not bring his dead child back to life, but that they would one day be reunited in heaven (verse 23).
   • Summarize: The immediate costs of David’s sins were that he gave the enemies of God opportunity to blaspheme the Lord, and the child born of David and Bathsheba’s sin died.
6. God’s Grace Toward David.
   • Read 2 Samuel 12:24.
   • Explain the following:
     • God was gracious toward David and Bathsheba, giving them another son.
     • They named this son Solomon (“peaceful”).
     • One day Solomon would succeed David as king of Israel.
   • Ask: “How did the Lord feel toward young Solomon?” (He loved him).
   • Summarize: God was gracious toward David and Bathsheba, giving them another son, Solomon, whom the Lord

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Costs of David’s Sins.  Tell them we have discovered reasons for David’s sins and some of the immediate and future costs of his sins.

Ask: “Why did David commit his terrible sins?” (he thought his desires were more important than other peoples’ needs, and he didn’t think God’s commandments were important enough to obey.

Ask: “What were the costs of David’s sins?”  Direct everyone’s attention to the list on the board, which includes the following costs:

• Violence and bloodshed in his family.
• Rebellion against David would arise from within his own family.
• David’s wives would be given to another man who would publicly defile them.
• David’s supposedly “secret” sins would be revealed to everyone.
• David’s sins gave God’s enemies cause to blaspheme the Lord.
• David and Bathsheba’s baby would die.

Ask: “If David had known about all these terrible costs before he sinned, do you think he would have committed his terrible sins?” (probably not).  Tell the class when most of us are tempted, we don’t stop to think about the consequences of our actions.  Stress the fact that all sin carries a cost; the ultimate cost of sin is eternal separation from God and torment in hell.

Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read the first phrase of Romans 6:23.  Ask: “What is the cost of sin?” (death).  Tell the class we are all sinners, but God did something very special to deal with our sin.  Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Romans 5:8.  Tell the students that God sent His Son to die for sinners.  Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 1 Peter 3:18.  Ask: “Why did Jesus die for unjust sinners such as us?” (to bring us to God: to make us right with God).  Ask the first volunteer to read Romans 6:23 again, but this time to read the entire verse.  Ask: “What is the gift of God through Jesus Christ?” (eternal life).

Tell the students if any of them have never placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they should do so now to avoid the ultimate and eternal cost of sin, which is hell.  Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Encourage any who have never trusted Christ for salvation to confess their sins and place their trust for eternity in Jesus.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Romans 6:23.  Tell them whenever they see hurt or heartache in the world, to remember that these are some of the costs of mankind’s sins.