David broke three of the Ten Commandments when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. He was guilty of coveting another man’s wife, the act of adultery, and murder.
We shouldn’t be surprised that God, who gave these commandments to humans, was displeased with the king. He sent Nathan with a message for David.
Nathan used a parable to sneak up on David and deliver a convincing guilty message.
He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb that he had bought.
He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare and drink from his cup and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” (2 Samuel 12:1-4).
What stands out to me in this parable is how the rich man was full of pity for his own flock, but unwilling to show pity on the poor man’s lamb.
David understood the inequity, too, and it kindled his anger against the rich man.
Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6).
Israel’s judicial system did not see the taking of a person’s animal as a capital offense. It did require a fourfold replacement by the offending party.
As we read the story of David, we will discover he paid a fourfold penalty for this offense – the lives of four of his children.
You’re the Man
But, I’m getting ahead of myself. At this point in the story, is pointing the finger of judgment at Nathan’s hypothetical rich man.
Nathan delivers the punch line to his parable. Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7).
I’m sure David was shocked, but there was more to the prophet’s words. He reminded David of all that God had given him. Similar to Saul, the king thought lightly of God’s word.
Nathan asked, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?” (2 Samuel 12:9).
God’s word is one of His greatest gifts to humans. The Psalm writer wrote:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
John’s message about the word explodes with meaning and opportunity for humans. God’s Word was identified with Jesus, who entered our world to explain God to us.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known (literally, “explained Him”). John 1:18
We despise or take God’s word lightly when we disregard it and follow our own lusts, which is exactly what David did.
When Saul despised the Lord’s word, the kingdom was removed from his household. When David did it, he learned that there would be serious consequences, but the kingdom would remain with his family.
You probably know that the great Psalm of confession, Psalm 51, was David’s response to this episode in his life. It is my understanding that David prayed it publically as an act of humility and repentance.
Reflections
The insight that most impressed me as I read David and Nathan’s dialogue is the idea of despising God’s word. We are meant to internalize God’s word, where it will guide us and bring us to life in Christ.
We cheat ourselves and people around us when we treat God’s word lightly and follow our desires, cravings, lusts, etc. Not only that, but we also dishonor God with this kind of behavior.
Praise God for forgiveness, because we all treat God’s word lightly from time to time. However, let’s not get sloppy with His grace. His Word – the Lord Jesus Christ – has been given to us to bring us to life.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 