“The High Cost” Part II of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 08 March 1, 2009

Two weeks ago in Part 1 of our mini series on the “High Cost” we looked at the high cost of committing sin. We read how David coveted his neighbor’s wife, committed adultry and then committed murder. Today we’ll look at “The High Cost of Covering Sin.”

David according to II Samuel 11 and 12 tried to “cover his sin”.

Solomon (David’s son) years later wrote, “He that covers his sins shall not prosper” Proverbs 28:13

Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 are a record of David’s confession, repentance and restoration. I think you’ll agree David paid a dear price in trying to cover his sin. Psalms 32:3-4 When I kept silent my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.

David was saying, because he covered his sin, he became physically old;. The word “moisture” in verse 4 is the Hebrew word for “freshness”. He says my freshness is turned into the drought of summer. He became dried up spiritually. Sin does that... especially if we are busy trying to cover it up.

Psychiatrists will tell you that guilt affects people physically. It has been discovered that deep buried guilt can be the cause of nervousness, backaches, headaches, heart trouble and ulcers.

Lets see how it affected David:
His Eyes: Psalms 51:3 .... my sin is ever before me.

Have you ever watched a child who has done something he shouldn’t do? You may not know what he has done, but you know he’s guilty of something. You can see it in his eyes.

David who saw God’s glory in everything around him... Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork... now only saw his sin.

People with unconfessed sin cannot see the beauty or blessings of God. Something happens to their sight.

His Mind: Psalms 51:6 desire truth in the inward parts... make me to know wisdom.

The dumbest person in the world is a Christian trying to cover his sin! Look at the things David did: He tried to pass off his adultry to Uriah - that didn’t work! He made Uriah drunk - that didn’t work! He gave Uriah a letter to give to Joab—wierd isn’t it carrying your own death letter..I wonder what Joab thought? I guess David wants to get rid of Uriah for some reason.

Proverbs 28:13 “he who covers his sin will not prosper”
Numbers 32:23- “Be sure your sin will find you out”

His ears: Psalms 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness…

Unconfessed sin causes everything to sound bad. You attend Bible Study and critise it, you attend church and critize - the choir was off key, the message to long or too strong. Everything you hear is wrong! Do you know why? You are wrong!

Ear Infections cause imbalances.

His bones: Psalms 51:8 ...that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.


When we walk with God our bones so to speak are strong, sturdy and straight. But as we try to carry the burden of unrepented sin - our bones become dry and brittle.

His heart: Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Maybe you think - I’m not like David, I’ve never committed adultery. Matthew 5:28 whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Again David’s son wrote: Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

David no longer had a clean heart - it had been defiled by sin, that is why he prayed create in me a new heart! When your heart is dirty, everything becomes dirty

Matthew 12:34 out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

David’s spirit: Psalms 51:10 ... renew a right (steadfast) spirit within me.

Something happened to David’s spirit - he lost his enthusiasm, his desire to walk upright. His attitude was wrong!

David’s fellowship with God: Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

As David continued covering his sin something happened to his fellowship with God.
Folks when we sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit. When we cover our sin we quench the Holy Spirit. Something happens to our fellowship with the Father.

When we cover our sin we are actually trying to fool God. We use up incredible energy trying to keep sin covered.

David’s joy: Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation;

This “missing” joy is experienced whenever you attempt to hide your sin. Husband / wife; Parent / child; Employer / employee

David’s Testimony: Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners will be converted to You.

David’s testimony was tainted and he knew he couldn’t lead others.

A good man doing a bad thing causes far more damage than a bad man doing a bad thing.

David’s hands: Psalms 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness There was blood on his hands. David was guilty of murder!

Uriah’s blood stained David’s hands, and nothing but (a stronger blood) the blood of Jesus could wash that stain away!

David’s tongue: Psalms 51:14-15 my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteous-ness….

When David walked with God he wrote songs of praise and joy. But now? How could he sing about righteousness?
Every word was a knife!

At times we go through the same thing.... there are times we can’t sing at all. Some thing happens to our mouth and we can’t praise God in the freedom and joy of truth.

David’s ministry: Psalms 51:18 .. build the walls of Jerusalem.

David had been a builder, he had built a strong city and a strong nation. But when he sinned and covered up his sin something happened to his ministry. Instead of being a builder he became a destroyer.

Instead of being part of the solution he became the problem.

I Kings 8:19 Nevertheless you shalt not build the house..

The neat part of this was that David wasn’t upset - he knew God was right! Folks their are consequences to sin!

David still stored up supplys and money to build even though he wouldn’t be building it.

I often wonder what would happen in our churches if all of the people of God would get right with God... how ministry would be blessed! Think of the spiritual building!

See the high cost of covering sin!

Something happened to his eyes, his mind, his ears, his bones, his heart and his spirit.

Somethingh happened to his fellowship, his joy and his testimony.
Something happened to his hands, and to his mouth. As a final result something happened to his ministry.

We started with Proverbs 28:13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: BUT hang on friends for there is more to this verse…
whoever confesses and forsakes his sins shall have mercy!