2 Samuel 12:1-15 Uncovered
A great sin is brought to David’s attention. He is incensed at the man who would commit such an offense. Then he learns that HE is that man. His sin is uncovered.
David plotted and schemed to make sure his sin was never discovered. He even went so far as to arrange the murder of one of his most faithful men. But there is One who ALWAYS knows. Try as you might, you can never fool God. And God may just tell on you like He did to David.
Let’s see how God yanks the blanket back from David’s sin and the price required for it.
♥ ♦ ♥
Nathan was one of David’s closest advisors and friends but lately there was a distance between the two of them. Nathan was uncertain to its origin. He chalked it up to David being busy or moody from staying home from the battle. There was a time they fought side by side and even Nathan missed those days. Maybe David was missing them as well and didn’t know how to express with those feelings. Having separate houses added to this distance but maybe that was a good thing too.
There was another reason David could be distant. He had just had another child. This one was born to him through the widow of one of their friends; Uriah the Hittite. David had taken her as his own after his death. But there were rumors floating about that the child may have been conceived before Uriah’s death. Nathan gave rumors little weight.
Nathan lay sleeping on his bed when the Lord spoke to him. “I am sending you to David. You are to confront his on his sin.”
“I don’t know of any sin.”
“You do. You have heard it spoken of in whispers. What was spoken of in secret is true.”
Nathan is glad that he is not standing for the words of the Lord would surely have knocked him to the ground. David has taken another man’s wife while he yet lived. And has seen to it that this man NOT continue to live.
David had become skilled as of late in belaying other’s suspicions. In short, he had become a convincing liar on this subject. Nathan did not believe a straightforward confrontation would break through David’s defenses and bring about the required repentance.
Nathan rose early after his conversation with the Lord. He wasn’t able to sleep anyway. As soon as it was light he made his way to David’s house. Nathan was always welcome at the home of the king so the guards admitted him right away. He waited in the kitchen while the morning meal was being prepared.
Abket entered the kitchen to gather his master’s morning drink. David liked to have something to drink first thing in the morning to clear his throat. Abket mixed him a drink of the juice of an orange, honey and cinnamon. As he was preparing David’s drink Nathan spoke to him. “I have need to speak with the king privately.”
“I will inform him of your need right away. If you will remain here I will be sure to send word back to you when he is ready.”
“I will be here. Ensure that he understands it is an urgent matter.”
Abket departs with David’s drink. He raps upon the doorpost of David’s chambers and then enters. “I hope you rested well my lord. Your drink is ready for you. Also Nathan wishes to see you on a matter he insists is urgent. He waits in the kitchen until you are ready to receive him.”
“Thank you Abket. Have Nathan wait for me in the throne room. I will be along shortly.”
“Nathan also stated that this was a private matter my king. Would you rather receive him elsewhere?”
David wonders what Nathan could need to address that would be both urgent and private. “I will receive him in my chambers, as soon as I’m dressed.”
Abket assists David in dressing and then sends word through a servant to bring Nathan to the king’s chambers. Once Nathan arrives Abket bows and excuses himself.
David greets Nathan warmly. “Welcome my friend. I hear you wish to speak with me. What is it you need that requires privacy?”
“I have a matter of a great injustice that I need to share with you. ‘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, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take on 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 mean who had come to him” (verses 1b-4).
David was indignant at this story. His face flushed with anger. His hands clenched and unclenched. “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb four-fold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity” (verses 5-6).
Nathan nodded wiseley then he looked David straight in the eyes and spoke. “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. 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 it this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 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…”
David’s knees failed him and he fell into his chair. He felt as if a band of iron were squeezing his heart, so deep was his grief at his own deeds.
“…Now therefore the sword shall never depart from you house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. for you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun’” (verses 7-12).
David’s face paled as Nathan laid his sin bare before him. He had thought no one would find out. And every time his conscience raised its head he pushed it back down. He now sat naked before God. David dropped his face into his hands and cried; “I have sinned against the Lord” (verse 13b).
Nathan’s face softened and he sat beside David. He recognized true remorse in David’s tone. “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die…”
David shook his head. He KNEW he deserved punishment. He felt the iron band begin to loosen just a bit. But Nathan was not finished yet.
“…Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die” (verses 13c-14).
At these words David came undone. He cried out in pain. He fell to the floor on his face. His son’s punishment should be his own. The child conceived in sin would bear the punishment for his sin.
Nathan stood, gave David one last look and then left him in his distress.
David stayed as he was when Nathan left. He was still there when Abket came running to him.
“My lord, something is wrong!”
(to be continued)
♥ ♦ ♥
“Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). David had not pulled the wool over God’s eyes. Everything he had done from the first moment of lust to the daily lies regarding the child’s conception were known to Him. His sin had consequences. Unfortunately and innocent child had to pay them. The child would be free of pain but David would live the rest of his life knowing his son paid the price for his sin. We will see David plead for his son, next time. And hear God’s answer.
Father God, Jesus paid the price for my sins. I deserve death, yet He took my place. I am so grateful for that sacrifice! But I also feel guilty. I wish there was some way that I could have spared Him that pain.
Jesus, do You still feel the nails every time I sin? I’m sorry for all the times I bring You back to Calvary; to the memories of that day. Even now. I Love You.
