Perfect Vision for Other People's Sins
If there is a common thread in the heart of EVERY single human and many times - every community - it is our incredible ability to see the damage the sins of others creates. This is the case with even the best of us as illustrated by King David's response to Nathan's parable of the king who slaughtered the poor man's lamb to feed his guest.
2 Samuel 12:4–6 (ESV) Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
David encompasses what we are naturally given to do, that is, judge perfectly the sins of others. This is why Jesus told us to deal with the log in our eye first. David is mad at the fictional man's action, even calling on the name of the Lord and then describing the man as lacking pity. Little did David realize, this man was him.
It's part of the human problem. We just don't see our sins very clearly until we see them in others. I bet if you're a parent, the child you are hardest on is the one who reminds you of yourself. You may not even realize it. When it comes to our sins, we just can't see them for what they are - terrible actions that destroy our lives and the lives of others.
Nathan is the messenger for David's failure. Notice his words:
2 Samuel 12:7–9 (ESV) Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
There are a few things we must see in this text. First, notice the Lord loved being generous to David. He wanted to bless him. He would have blessed him even more if what he had given was not enough. This is a common misunderstanding about the Lord. Most people think God is holding out on them. NONSENSE! What was the blessing of the original Garden? All the trees in the garden (ALL) are yours save only ONE. Friend, the Lord wants to bless you. Sin causes us to doubt this. It is a deep mistrust in God rooted in our great ancestor's temptation and failure.
Second, notice the phrase, "Why have you despised the Word of the Lord...?" Herein lies one of the warning signs we are drifting from God, the less we love God's Word and the more we aim our lives toward sin. You see, sin's allure grows stronger the more we aim at it. Then that ancient lie of satan of a stingy God who withholds takes root and before you know it we are trying to manage a life of darkness and shame.
Finally and most importantly: The Lord does not let David's life waste away in unconfessed sins. Yes, Nathan rebukes the prophet and we will talk about his boldness next time. But the stern rebuke is an act of love from the Lord who has a plan and purpose for David. In fact, the Lord will descend from a child born of Bathsheba, thus redeeming the shame of David's sin in order to accomplish God's plan of salvation.
The Gospel is Good News because we come to see the gracious hand of God overriding our failures and faults to bring about His ultimate future plans. This is our hope in sins we struggle to see. God sees them but refuses to let them have the last word over our lives.
2 Samuel 12:4–6 (ESV) Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
David encompasses what we are naturally given to do, that is, judge perfectly the sins of others. This is why Jesus told us to deal with the log in our eye first. David is mad at the fictional man's action, even calling on the name of the Lord and then describing the man as lacking pity. Little did David realize, this man was him.
It's part of the human problem. We just don't see our sins very clearly until we see them in others. I bet if you're a parent, the child you are hardest on is the one who reminds you of yourself. You may not even realize it. When it comes to our sins, we just can't see them for what they are - terrible actions that destroy our lives and the lives of others.
Nathan is the messenger for David's failure. Notice his words:
2 Samuel 12:7–9 (ESV) Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
There are a few things we must see in this text. First, notice the Lord loved being generous to David. He wanted to bless him. He would have blessed him even more if what he had given was not enough. This is a common misunderstanding about the Lord. Most people think God is holding out on them. NONSENSE! What was the blessing of the original Garden? All the trees in the garden (ALL) are yours save only ONE. Friend, the Lord wants to bless you. Sin causes us to doubt this. It is a deep mistrust in God rooted in our great ancestor's temptation and failure.
Second, notice the phrase, "Why have you despised the Word of the Lord...?" Herein lies one of the warning signs we are drifting from God, the less we love God's Word and the more we aim our lives toward sin. You see, sin's allure grows stronger the more we aim at it. Then that ancient lie of satan of a stingy God who withholds takes root and before you know it we are trying to manage a life of darkness and shame.
Finally and most importantly: The Lord does not let David's life waste away in unconfessed sins. Yes, Nathan rebukes the prophet and we will talk about his boldness next time. But the stern rebuke is an act of love from the Lord who has a plan and purpose for David. In fact, the Lord will descend from a child born of Bathsheba, thus redeeming the shame of David's sin in order to accomplish God's plan of salvation.
The Gospel is Good News because we come to see the gracious hand of God overriding our failures and faults to bring about His ultimate future plans. This is our hope in sins we struggle to see. God sees them but refuses to let them have the last word over our lives.
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