Wrong picture! Dealing with temptations

Right picture! Right picture? Wrong picture! 2 Samuel 11

Dealing with temptations Genesis 3

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. How temptation works:

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “Johnny, if you touch the knife you will get hurt!” “Johnny, if you touch the knife you will get hurt!” verses verses “Johnny, always be very careful “Johnny, always be very careful to use knives carefully!” to use knives carefully!” How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences

Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” This is a good thing? This is a good thing? How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits

Genesis 3:1-7 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. How temptation works: Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense

Genesis 3:1-7 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. How temptation works: Creates shame and alienation with God and everybody and everything else. Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense

Dealing with temptations 2 Samuel 11 Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Creates shame and alienation with God and everybody and everything else.

2 Samuel 11 Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring, at the time when kings In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 Details: Details: David was not doing his job. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted advisor. the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 Details: Details: David was not doing his job. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted advisor. Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 Details: Details: David was not doing his job. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted advisor. Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men This was set up over a few days, it was not a sin of the moment. He inquires about her. (The servant cautions him.) After a few days, he sends servants to get her for him.

2 Samuel 11:1-5 Details: Details: David was not doing his job. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted advisor. Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men This was set up over a few days, it was not a sin of the moment. Leviticus 15:19, 24 Leviticus 15:19, 24 “ ‘When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. “ ‘If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean. “ ‘If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean. David is concerned about the outward, and no longer his heart. I Samuel 16:7 I Samuel 16:7 Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense

2 Samuel 11:1-5 Details: Details: David was not doing his job. Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel, David’s most trusted advisor. Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men This was set up over a few days, it was not a sin of the moment. Be careful here of pride. If David could fall so far, so could you and I! Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring, at the time when kings In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring, at the time when kings In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 In the spring, at the time when kings In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 God has not adequately provided God has not adequately provided my “needs.” (Commands are too my “needs.” (Commands are too constraining. constraining. Wives at the time of Bathsheba: Michal, Abigail, and lots more (2 Samuel 5:13) more (2 Samuel 5:13)

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 The rules can be stretched for kings. The rules can be stretched for kings.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 “I am pregnant” fellowship with God is broken he has loyal Uriah killed involves others in his sin is confronted by Nathan ~ Psalm 51 the child dies Amnon rapes Tamar Absalom kills Amnon Absalom rebells Absalom rapes David’s concubines Absalom dies

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 This sin did absolutely nothing to benefit David in an manner at all. Was the sex with Bathsheba really any better what he could have had with harem members?

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense 2 Samuel 11:1-5 If your purpose is you.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability. Know God ever more deeply.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability. Know God ever more deeply. Know scripture. (epignosko/  )

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability. Know God ever more deeply. Know scripture. (epignosko/  ) Evaluate the cost/benefit. Remember, observe, reflect.

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability. Know God ever more deeply. Know scripture. (epignosko/  ) Evaluate the cost/benefit. Remember, observe, reflect. Purpose correspondence?

Dealing with temptations Built for you ~ crafty, shrewd Questions God’s character Preys on ignorance/distortion Lies about consequences Lies about benefits It makes good sense Be honest about your vulnerability. Know God ever more deeply. Know scripture. (epignosko/  ) Evaluate the cost/benefit. Remember, observe, reflect. Purpose correspondence?

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. We nurture what we actually value

Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Philippians 3:8-11 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

What are we choosing? What have we chosen?