10. ONE'S OWN SINS NEVER SEEM AS BAD AS SOMEONE ELSE'S.
II Samuel 12:1-6 - "Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: 'There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.' So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.'"David is outraged at the behavior of the rich man in Nathan's parable, not realizing at that point that he was the guilty man (cf. 12:7)! David's treatment of Uriah was truly disgusting. The king was rich with women (cf. I Chr. 3:1-9), yet he had no pity on this man who had but one wife. David wasn't that upset concerning his wicked behavior, but as soon as he learns of Nathan's hypothetical thief, David is ready to execute him and demand restitution! It is easy to judge others quickly and harshly when we are sometimes guilty of similar offenses, but it should not be this way (cf. Matt. 7:1-6). Merely because it is more difficult to see our own sins doesn't mean that they aren't there. God sees them in all their blackness.
11. SHORT-TERM SIN OFTEN HAS LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.
II Samuel 12:10,11 - "'Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun."
This point, sadly, lays the groundwork for the rest of David's life. David would be defined by his iniquities against Uriah from this point on. Previously, David had triumphed politically, spiritually, and militarily, but now his transgressions would bring him many troubles (as the rest of II Samuel details). One night of sexual pleasure led to a pregnancy which led to murder which led to much suffering and anguish for years! Friends, is sin worth it (cf. Prov. 13:15)? One night of illicit passion led to years of agony and regret. It isn't worth it! Sin always costs us more than we realize initially; its passing pleasures promise more than they can deliver (cf. Heb. 11:25). If one is not cleansed by the blood of Jesus, he will also learn the hard way that temporal sins can have eternal consequences (i.e., hellfire).
12. SIN IS A REPROACH AGAINST GOD.
II Samuel 12:14 - "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
Not only had David sinned against Uriah but also against the LORD (cf. Gen. 39:9)! When enemies of Jehovah learned of the king of Israel's wicked behavior, they would ridicule God. We today must take special care to guard our influence. Sin is still a reproach against God.