Nathan, the Unsung Hero
2 Samuel 12:1 (ESV) And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
For all the attention we put on David in the Bathsheba episode, we would do well to focus on Nathan for a moment. He confronts David at the height of his power and just after he killed a man trying to cover up his sin. Nathan's confrontation with the king takes serious guts.
We need prophets today. We need them like never before. Men who will speak for the Lord without fear or intimidation. Men who do not regard the position of who they are speaking to when it comes to proclaiming the Word of the Lord. It seems this is a lost art. Let's look closer.
First, a word about the approach. Nathan does not just come out with, "You committed adultery and murder." No, he beautifully illustrates David's sin with an allegory containing a similar event. The rich man takes the poor man's goat and slaughters it for his guest. Notice the story is something David would have not only been familiar with but also would have FELT familiar with. He was a shepherd. He knew how hard it was to raise lambs from birth and care for them. He was also well aware of the potential attachment one could develop for a certain lamb.
Second, Nathan knows he is SENT from the Lord. He doesn't do this on his own. The theme of David's sinful actions in the last chapter revolves around who and what David SENDS. Now it is the Lord who SENDS His man to David for confrontation. A prophet of God must hear from Him and be confident that his words are not their own but the word God has spoken.
Third, Nathan is familiar with the Lord's written Word and Law.
2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV) 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.
Nathan knows the law and how it has been broken. David has coveted, committed adultery and murdered. So when Nathan speaks he speaks from the authority of God's law and not simply of his own grievance for what David has done wrong. I have often found that Christians can confuse the sinful actions of others with what simply annoys them. We must be careful to address sin in our fellow man and not simply personality quirks. Our authority is not in us but in God's truth.
Finally, we MUST pay attention to the end of this interaction. For after Nathan strongly condemns the king's actions he quickly offers absolution:
2 Samuel 12:13–14 (ESV) David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”
For all the attention we put on David in the Bathsheba episode, we would do well to focus on Nathan for a moment. He confronts David at the height of his power and just after he killed a man trying to cover up his sin. Nathan's confrontation with the king takes serious guts.
We need prophets today. We need them like never before. Men who will speak for the Lord without fear or intimidation. Men who do not regard the position of who they are speaking to when it comes to proclaiming the Word of the Lord. It seems this is a lost art. Let's look closer.
First, a word about the approach. Nathan does not just come out with, "You committed adultery and murder." No, he beautifully illustrates David's sin with an allegory containing a similar event. The rich man takes the poor man's goat and slaughters it for his guest. Notice the story is something David would have not only been familiar with but also would have FELT familiar with. He was a shepherd. He knew how hard it was to raise lambs from birth and care for them. He was also well aware of the potential attachment one could develop for a certain lamb.
Second, Nathan knows he is SENT from the Lord. He doesn't do this on his own. The theme of David's sinful actions in the last chapter revolves around who and what David SENDS. Now it is the Lord who SENDS His man to David for confrontation. A prophet of God must hear from Him and be confident that his words are not their own but the word God has spoken.
Third, Nathan is familiar with the Lord's written Word and Law.
2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV) 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.
Nathan knows the law and how it has been broken. David has coveted, committed adultery and murdered. So when Nathan speaks he speaks from the authority of God's law and not simply of his own grievance for what David has done wrong. I have often found that Christians can confuse the sinful actions of others with what simply annoys them. We must be careful to address sin in our fellow man and not simply personality quirks. Our authority is not in us but in God's truth.
Finally, we MUST pay attention to the end of this interaction. For after Nathan strongly condemns the king's actions he quickly offers absolution:
2 Samuel 12:13–14 (ESV) David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”
Now the question you have to ask here is why does the child have to die for David's sin? Ultimately, the reason is theological and only understood from this side of the Cross. David is a sinner who needs a substitute to take his place in death. This substitute for sin is not this descendant of David but One who will come much later - Jesus Christ. So while the child tragically dies, we must see the picture this child presents for us. David's sin, like yours and mine, is covered by the Son of David, Jesus.
When Christians address sin or confront one another, we do well to learn from Nathan's example here. He was bold, courageous, blunt and yet merciful. We often fail on one of two extremes. We either ignore sin - which is dangerous. Or we trounce the sinner - which is unloving. Nathan's prophetic work in the life of David not only courageously confronted sin but also offered the mercies of God in a picture of a substitutionary death. We MUST deal with sin while proclaiming the amazing grace of the Savior who saves us from it.
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