David - The Depressed & Guilty King

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Let's look at David in a defining moment of his life. David was now king and firmly established in Jerusalem. He had been victorious in battle after battle. It was that time of the year when kings go to war, but this time, David sent his men and he stayed home. This set the stage for David's downfall. He was not doing what he was supposed to do - fight with his men. Instead, he was walking on the palace's roof when he saw a beautiful, naked woman bathing in her home. He was filled with lust and had her brought to him. Keep in mind that David had several wives who were undoubtedly beautiful as well. It didn't matter. He wanted this new woman, so he slept with her and sent her away. Perhaps he didn't even think of her again until a note arrived that declared the woman was pregnant. Her husband was off with the army fighting another war. David began to pile sin upon sin to cover up the original sin. He called her husband home to give him a report on the battle. Then he told Uriah to go home and come back tomorrow.

Only Uriah did not go home. he slept at the palace entrance with the guards. David had him come to the palace again at dinner and got him drunk Perhaps now he will go home and be with his wife. No. Uriah is a man of honor. He will not go home while the rest of the army is out fighting. Uriah again slept at the palace entrance. David thought eh had no choice but to arrange for Uriah to be killed so he could take Uriah's wife as his own. Uriah died, and David claimed Bathsheba. The sin was covered. David must have forgotten that God sees everything.

Months pass. Guilt was eating away at David. Every time he saw Bathsheba with the growing baby inside, it stabbed his conscience again. The baby was born and God sent Nathan, the prophet, to confront David. Nathan told David a story about how a rich man stole from a poor man and David became incensed. How dare this man do such a thing! Tell me who he is and I will kill him. Nathan revealed that the rich man was David. Exposed! David confessed his sin to God and begged forgiveness. He was forgiven, but he did suffer the consequences. Listen to David as he talked about that time in his life:

"When I refused to confess my sin,

My body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.'

And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone." Psalm 32:3-5

Guilt can lead to depression. It did for David. The answer to guilt is confession.

KEY POINTS

1. Not doing what you are supposed to be doing leads to you doing what you ought not do.

2. Sin multiplies.

3. Unconfessed sin rots your soul. Confess it to get rid of it.