The Downfall of David

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Scriptures: 2 Samuel 10-13

• Sermon Summary

  Summary: In the sixth sermon of our Becoming King series Jeremy takes us  through David’s failures as a king and a father, exploring the inevitable corruption of absolute power and the aftermath of intergenerational sin.

  *One quick caveat and warning, this week’s sermon deals with stories that involve sexual assault and violence. This question guide will not focus on those topics in detail. But, please be respectful to anyone in your group who may feel uncomfortable discussing this week’s topic.

  War for the sake of War: David consolidates his power through a number of decisive military victories. Then, In a dramatic narrative turn in David’s life, he sends his army off to war with ambiguous motives while he stays in Jerusalem comfortably on his throne. The cracks of his power begin to show.

  Rooftop encounters: Infamously, David sees Bathsheba (the wife of one of David’s top army men, Uriah) bathing on the rooftop one night and commands his men to bring her to him. Jeremy points out that David fully knew what he was doing and that what he was doing was wrong. Jeremy also shares that Bathsheba is neither culpable nor blameworthy for anything that happens to her here. David unsuccessfully attempts to cover up Bathsheba’s resulting pregnancy which culminates in the murder of her husband, Uriah.

  Like Father like Son: God sends the prophet Nathan to confront David for his actions, but David’s inability to reflect on Nathan’s parable exposes his blindness to his own sin. David’s family begins to fall apart as his son Amnon repeats his father’s sin but with his own sister. Jeremy addresses the generational sin in David’s family by pointing out that our mistakes can weigh down the people that we love if we don’t reflect and examine our shortcomings.

  Learning the Lessons: Jeremy cautions us to approach David’s whole story honestly, pointing out the good, the bad, and the ugly of David’s life. It is dangerous to celebrate a king, even a great king, while ignoring the ways that unchecked power can corrupt and damage our closest relationships.

• Discussion Guide

  Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.

  Connect: Maybe you’re not leading armies or ruling over a kingdom, but what’s one experience you’ve had in a leadership position or position of influence where you felt that the pressure was really on you? If you want, maybe you can also share briefly how it may have affected you.

  Share: Nathan confronts David after his major failure with a rather pointed parable hoping to cause David to reflect on his actions and take accountability but David responds by quickly pointing the finger outward and failing to look inward.

  Who are the ‘Nathans’ in your life?
  And how do you tend to respond when they point out a blind spot in your life?

  Reflect: on the affect David’s actions have on his family and people like Bathsheba and Uriah. Jeremy showed us that David’s failure to address the shortcomings in his life as a king and a father caused the worst parts of his story to be played out in his children’s stories as well. Consider Jeremy’s words:

  “And look I can't identify with the scale of David story,
  but I can absolutely see the way that my kids—even my adopt adopted kids—are beginning to look like me and Rachel.
  And stories like this are meant to tell us to be mindful of how damaging sin can be when left unchecked.

  Do I let my hurts spill out onto them
  Will I do the work to heal my anxieties before they become theirs?
  Will I trust that there is a path God has laid out for me that is about more than just where I go when I die—it's about the influence and the legacy that I leave on those I care the most about.”

  What are the methods, practices, or rituals that you employ in your life to avoid letting your shortcomings negatively affect significant people in your life?

  Engage: Jeremy warns us against ignoring the “second half” of David’s life. How can we resist the temptation to celebrate only the victories and avoid confronting the failures in our own lives and faith communities?

  Takeaway: What takeaways do you have from this week’s discussion on David’s failures or David’s story as a whole?

  Prayer from the sermon:
  “Good and gracious God,
  We have journeyed with this man you chose to become king,
  Seen all the good in him,
  The faithfulness and righteousness he lived into,
  Watched him rise to the throne he was promised.

  And yet we have seen the losses along the way.
  The loss of innocence,
  and peace,
  The loss of a friend closer than a brother.

  And along with these stories we trace our own narratives,
  Dreams and ambitions pursued,
  And accomplished,
  Some abandoned and maybe forgotten.
  Loss and hurt and pain overcome—some of it still perhaps holding onto us in ways.

  And so as we explore David's final chapter,
  See the forks in the roads laid out before him,
  We might—just like earlier—see our lives in parallel,
  And with fresh eyes understand the choices ahead of us.

  May your spirit bring wisdom,
  And Grace,
  And peace to our steps.
  Maybe learn from it all,
  As you intend in your word,

  In the strong name of the risen Christ we pray,
  Amen.”

• Service Songs & Prayers

  CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 104

  MUSIC Curated by Curt Muller
  Elevation Worship - We Praise You
  Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
  Elevation Worship - God Is Not Against Me
  Bethel Music - Goodness Of God

  PRAYER TO PREPARE FOR LENT
  Written by Bobbi Salkeld

  On this Sunday before Lent begins, I’d like to invite you to consider what your journey to the cross might look like this year. 

  Lent covers 40 days, not including Sundays, that lead us all the way to Easter. It’s helpful to think of Lent as a “Great Fast” so we can prepare for Easter’s “Great Feast.” 

  As we pray together, I’ll offer all kinds of practices you can include for yourself this year. Listen for one or two that speak to you.

  Let us pray. 

  First, consider how you might deepen your life of prayer this Lent. 

  Perhaps pick up a prayer book.
  Pray the Lord’s Prayer every day.
  Or learn to match the Jesus Prayer to your breath.

  Maybe you’ll start or end the day with gratitude. 

  Meditate for five minutes in the morning.

  Or whisper a prayer on your daily walk through the neighbourhood.

  Jesus, as we journey with you, meet us in our daily prayers. 

  Second, contemplate how you can practice a creative fast this Lent. 

  Maybe you’ll give up social media or scrolling.

  Maybe you’ll fast from alcohol or cannabis. 

  Maybe you’ll embrace vegetarianism or go with a little less meat.  

  You can fast from swearing.
  Fast from complaining.
  Fast from buying anything brand new. 

  Jesus, as we journey with you, fill the space we create in our hearts through fasting. 
  
  Finally, think through how you can give a little more this Lent.  

  Maybe your spring cleaning turns into a donation run to MCC.

  Maybe you give some money to a worthy cause.

  Or you offer your time as a new volunteer. 

  Maybe you write 40 encouraging text messages and send one every day. 

  You could make a list of 40 things you can contribute in your neighbourhood – as simple as a smile.

  Maybe your whole family comes up with 40 acts of kindness.

  Jesus, as we journey with you, make generosity our joy this spring. 

  Amen.

  SERIES BUMPER
  Becoming King