The Backslider

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Proverbs 14:14King David, though a man after God’s own heart, was a great sinner and backslider. In 2 Samuel 11, he committed adultery and, in covering it up, he committed murder. But in 2 Samuel 12, we find that David was also a great repenter. He exemplifies the way back to God after we slide into sin.We must first recognize the causes of David’s sin. In a time of war, David was at home while his army fought without him.Adrian Rogers says, “The sin of omission is failure to do what you ought to be doing.”David’s casualness quickly turned into a careless, compulsive affair with a married woman. That carelessness turned into callousness. After committing the hot-blooded sin of adultery, David murdered his mistress’ husband, Uriah, in cold blood.We also see the costs David faced when he covered up his sins rather than confess them. He aged prematurely, his body groaned inwardly under heavy conviction, and he experienced a spiritual dryness.Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”David’s backsliding was a critical condition. As children of God, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins until we confess them. If we do not, God must chastise us as he did David. God is more interested in our relationship with Him than anything else; He will do whatever He has to in order to restore it.Then, God will use someone or something in our lives to confront us about our sins. For David, he sent the prophet Nathan, before his continual sin cost him his life.2 Samuel 12:13 conveys that, had David persisted in his sin, God would have killed him. Once David realized how far he had drifted from God, he was desperate to find the way back. We don’t have to carry around our own condemnation anymore; we can be clean.Apply it to your lifeProverbs 14:14 says, “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above.” Do you have any unconfessed sin weighing on you today? Ask God to search your heart and reveal your sin to you. Confess it, and be cleansed by God’s forgiveness.