The David Question
2 Samuel 11-12
Christians are often shocked when spiritual leaders fail morally. It should not happen, but it does. It should not be shocking when it happens. We are all sinners capable of any sin known to mankind because we still retain the vestiges of the sinful nature within us. The Bible gives examples of such failure in King David, Abraham, Judah, and others. There are also examples of near failure like Joseph and Potiphar’s wife or David’s averted destruction of the household of Nabal.
There are some important questions we need to ask when faced with the failure of a person in spiritual leadership. The example of David in 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51 gives us some guidance and answers.
What does repentance look like?
David is an example both of the unrepentant and the repentant sinner. His response to his adultery with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 was to try to fix it himself—to cover it up. He committed adultery and then attempted to concoct a plan to deceive Uriah into accepting the resulting child as his own. When that did not work, David murdered Uriah to cover up his sin.
It is fairly easy for us to imagine David’s motivation. He did want to be disgraced in the eyes of his nation (and family) who looked to him as not only a leader but a man of God. Fixing it even for the “greater good” is not repentance. The child was his. The adultery was his. This was a crisis for David, for Bathsheba, for Uriah, for the royal family, for the priesthood and spiritual leaders, and the nation. But it would not go away by covering it up.
However, when David was confronted by Nathan in 2 Samuel 12, he finally saw himself and repented. Yes, David was caught. He did not self-report and in cases where there is no self-reporting the sincerity of true repentance is justifiably doubtful. But reading the prologue to Psalm 51 we find the evidence of David’s true repentance. The prologue is part of the inspired text—sort of a title and setting for the Psalm. David admitted his sin before the entire nation. He then wrote a Psalm of confession, had it set to music, and published it so the entire nation could sing solemnly about their King’s moral failure. That kind of openness is a sign of true repentance.
How could a person who is a spiritual leader sin like this?
Any person can commit any sin. People who are in ministry are often the particular targets of Satan because their sin does more damage to the cause of Christ. When we walk in the flesh, we do the works of the flesh. Romans 7:12-25 describes such a struggle in the life of a believer. Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead because of their sin in Acts 5. There are many ways even true believers allow themselves to be entrapped. The real testimony to the grace of God is that the Holy Spirit does change and keep many.
How could a person who is in sin talk about the Bible and tell others not to sin when he is doing it himself?
Some don’t talk about sin when they are in sin. Some do. There are different reasons. It is not like a person plans to be a hypocrite. They know the Bible is true but they make sinful choices and get trapped between what they know to be true and how they are living. Sometimes they become more vocal as a way of covering up or preaching to themselves.
Eventually, there will be one of three results for the person who believes and preaches the holiness of scripture while living in secret sin. They cannot live in this spiritual cognitive dissonance forever. Some will deny their faith and continue in their sin. For those, they were most likely never true believers in the first place. Some will repent of their sin and turn back in shame to find forgiveness and restoration to their Lord. And for some, God will kill them and take them home to heaven rather than let them continue living in a way that mocks the name of Christ. There is a sin unto death.
Should I be discouraged when a spiritual leader sins?
No. Christians sin. They did in Bible times and they do today. No matter what we do, Christ is still on the throne. The real test for us is to respond biblically to sin. When people repent and sin is revealed we should be encouraged that the Holy Spirit is at work in purifying His church.
Should I be sad when a spiritual leader sins?
Yes. You should be sad. The Holy Spirit is grieved by our sins and the sins of others. Not only is it right to be sad, we should be saddened. We should never rejoice in sin, or feel like we are superior to someone else because they have sinned and we haven’t. True love never rejoices in the sin of another (1 Corinthians 13:6).
How can I trust people when spiritual leaders sometimes sin?
Why should your parents trust you after you have lied to them? One of the things we have to learn to do as human beings is trust. We also must not project the sins of one person onto other innocent people. In the end, you will have to trust others because you trust God–or you will have to live in a remote cabin in the middle of the woods all your life and not come into contact with anyone.
What should my attitude be toward a repentant sinner?
You should be sad for him and his family. David was received and loved by his people after his sin with Bathsheba, but his family and the nation paid a terrible price. They are all feeling hurt deeply by this. While love and welcome are appropriate, the sin itself should never be treated as trivial and the lasting consequences should not be ignored.
You should pray for him and his family. Pray that he will be truly repentant, that God will show him grace, and that he will walk in a way that is pleasing to God from here forward.
Is there anything I should learn myself because of the fall of others?
Sin causes sorrow, destruction, and huge consequences. Sin has significant consequences for yourself and those around you. The older you get and the more responsibilities you take on, the more significant the consequences are. The entire nation suffered because of David’s sin.
Like Joseph in his rejection of Potiphar’s wife, look up, consider the consequences of your choices, and run away. Every sin has consequences that we cannot possibly imagine. In Joseph’s case, if he had fallen to Potiphar’s wife, he would have been truly guilty and his moral failure could have endangered the survival of his entire family because it was through Joseph that the family of Israel was preserved.
How should I act toward my fellow believers—the innocent ones—when sin like this touches my church or community?
Above all, don’t quit. Don’t abandon them in your sorrow or disappointment. They need you and you need them. You should love one another and care for one another. Your spiritual leaders have been wounded by the failure of a colleague. Tell them that you love them. Do the little things that will make their lives easier for them. Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.