The Sins of Summer - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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The Sins of Summer

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle…”

Intro: That phrase is the key: “the time when kings go forth to battle”

In the ancient Near East, wars were generally NOT fought during winter rainy seasons, harvest seasons or severe weather periods.

Israel has a Mediterranean climate.

The winter months involved heavy rain, muddy terrain, swollen rivers making it difficult for troop movement.

So armies typically waited until the roads dried, crops were gathered and the weather improved.

This made late spring and summer the normal campaign season.

Summer is coming up. With it, some serious traps for the serious Christian.

I. The Sin of Slothfulness

The text is clear: David tarried still at Jerusalem – at the time when kings go forth to battle.

Furthermore, David was in the bed late in the afternoon as the sun was setting.

• 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed,

David was not diligent, where he was supposed to be, doing his job when he sinned.

• Proverbs 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

SLOTHFULNESS and SLOTHFUL is found in the Bible 17 times – all negative and condemned strongly.

Slothfulness is a sin.

Spending the whole summer in bed; laying around on the couch is slothful.

There is nothing good that can come from being a lazy, slothful person all summer.

·       Proverbs 26:14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

·       Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Parents – give your children chores.

Make them read books.

Find something productive to do.

Go outside and play.

Make some money.

Learn a skill.

Be a blessing.

Serve others.

Hebrews 6

·       10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

·       11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

·       12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

II. The Sin of Nakedness

This story starts out with David being enticed by a woman bathing.

·       2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

God hates nakedness.

·       The First Mention of the word NAKED is that within marriage. (and God made them coats)

·       The First Mention of the word NAKEDNESS is in the home. (and God cursed Ham)

Genesis 9

·       22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

·       23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.

The word NAKEDNESS is mentioned 43 times – all negative.

The word NAKED is found 45 times.

The word NAKED can mean without any clothes at all, or it can mean without enough clothes.

Peter was fishing naked and was ashamed.

·       John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Paul testified that he was naked in 1 Corinthians 4.

·       11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

The world’s dictionary definition of MODEST:

- Merriam Webster: preferring to dress and behave in a way that conforms to societal standards of decency and especially that is not sexually suggestive

- CHATGPT:  In regard to clothing, modest means dressing in a way that is decent, appropriate, respectful, and not intentionally designed to draw improper attention to the body.

The word is often connected to humility, self-respect, purity, and discretion rather than merely following a specific fashion style.

Biblically, modesty involves both attitude and appearance. The emphasis is not only what a person wears, but why they wear it.

Key ideas connected to modest clothing often include:

• Avoiding unnecessary exposure of the body

• Avoiding sexually provocative attire

• Dressing appropriately for the setting

• Showing humility rather than vanity or exhibitionism

• Reflecting good judgment and self-control

Different cultures, churches, and individuals may apply modesty differently, but the core principle is generally that clothing should honor God, reflect dignity, and avoid promoting lust, pride, or sensuality.

Historically, the English word “modest” comes from a root meaning measured or restrained. So modest clothing is clothing marked by restraint, propriety, and discretion rather than excess or sensual display.

A commonly referenced verse is 1 Timothy 2:9: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety…” – end of ChatGPT definition

Let’s look at 1 Timothy 2:9:

NAKED: to be lightly or poorly clad

MODEST: seemly; well arranged,

APPAREL: katastole: a lowering, letting down; a garment let down, dress, attire

SHAMEFACEDNESS: aidos ahee-doce’ - a sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect

SOBRIETY: soundness of mind; self-control, sobriety

It doesn’t say to dress modest when its cold.

Or when you’re not near a waterhole; or beach; or pool.

Walking around in your own house in front of your family half naked is sinful.

When you’re in your yard – your neighbors see you and should see a sanctified, godly, chaste, modest Christian.

Men – put your shirt on! Put your pants on!

Women, be modest! It’s a command!

·       Bathing suits are not modest.

·       Halter tops are not modest.

·       Shorts are not modest.

Isaiah 47

·       1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

·       2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

·       3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

III. The Sin of Unfaithfulness

When summer rolled around, David got lazy, slothful and let a lot of people down.

·       David was unfaithful to his God.

·       He was unfaithful to his family. (his household never recovered!)

·       He was unfaithful to the people of Israel.

·       He was unfaithful to those that he sent to get Bathsheba.

·       He was unfaithful to everyone.

Nathan told David in 2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Don’t fall prey to the seduction of summer and become unfaithful.

·       Be faithful to GIVE. Don’t spend your tithes and missions money on vacation.

·       Be faithful to GO. Soulwinning and outreach in the summer is prime time!

·       Be faithful to GATHER. Don’t lay out of church!

Something about nice weather is a temptation to miss church.

·       Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Laying out of church to go to family reunions, vacations, work picnics, camping is sin.

Find a church. Do your research before you leave town. Go to church.

Do not take a vacation from church; a vacation from God and His Word being preached.

It’s not just for you and your family, even though you need it.

Be a blessing to that church; to that pastor and his family.

Speak to them. Say Amen. Get involved.

The context of Hebrews 10:25 is found in verse 23, 24:

·       23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

·       24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Conclusion: Summer is upon us. Beware of the sins that come with it!