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2 Samuel 12

Interesting that throughout the narrative of David’s egregious wickedness, the Lord is never mentioned, and we don’t see Him as active in the scenario…until the very last phrase in chapter 11 and at the end of the story. “But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” In the Bible, sometimes we see God intervene in the course of events and sometimes He doesn’t. Who can understand the mind of the Lord? But in this case, He allowed David to act out the evil in His fleshly nature without stopping him and the consequences are tragic.

God takes center stage

But as we now move into chapter 12, God takes center stage and becomes very active. He uses the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan sets context before his direct confrontation of David by telling a parable. Speaking to David, Nathan says, “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he bought and nourished; and it grew up together with his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man and he (the rich man) was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, to prepare for the traveler who had come to him; instead, he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Self-Incrimination

David, being the passionate and emotional man that he was, began to burn with anger and declared, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die.” Funny how we rationalize our own sin and justify it because in our own hearts, we feel we didn’t mean to hurt anyone.  Or perhaps we feel we just made a mistake that we won’t do again. But when others do the same or similar, we easily judge them as sinful and deserving of punishment. This parable set the consequences for David to condemn himself without even realizing it. Then came the words that sent shockwaves through David’s inner being; that sense of chill that shocks the heart and settles like a pit in the gut. “YOU ARE THE MAN! THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL.”

How does David respond? More next time. Lord, please don’t leave me to do as my flesh desires. Intervene and confront me. Be active in my life. Help me listen when you speak and prompt me to obey. Give me a heart that is in tune with your heart. And most of all, thank You that there is no condemnation for me because, and ONLY because, I am in Christ. Amen