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Nathan Bares All
For a whole year, David hides his sin under a veil of deceit. It looks as though the king has gotten away with murder. Sin hardens David’s heart to stone. But God sends Nathan to break it. Instead of directly exposing David’s sin—and risking royal wrath and very likely his own neck—Nathan clothes the truth in a parable.
Read Nathan’s parable in 2 Samuel 12:1–12 and its interpretation, keeping in mind that Jesus also resorted to parables. What are the advantages of using them? What was it about David’s condition that made clothing the truth in a story a more effective, even necessary, way of reaching him?
Only a few verses long, Nathan’s parable holds precious lessons for reaching the sin-hardened heart. First, Nathan does not come to David as an accuser; instead, he humbly and tactfully solicits David’s help. David’s heart may be hardened by sin, but his sense of justice is not completely deadened. Second, by clothing the truth in a parable, Nathan breaches David’s defenses. Third, Nathan’s method of presentation invites David to listen without feeling judged. The result? David condemns himself.
Nathan's verdict, “Thou art the man,” rips through the veil of self-deceit in which David shrouded himself. David’s response, “I have sinned against the Lord” is met with “the Lord also has put away your sin” (vs. 13, NKJV). Why was the Lord able to put away, or cover, David’s sin? See 1 John 1:9.
David’s sin is covered, but the child conceived in sin must die. For David, this tragedy must have been more bitter than his own death. He removes his kingly robes and puts on the garments of humility and mourning. He openly prostrates himself before God in repentance, pleading for his child’s life. How ironic that, a year earlier, under the cover of darkness, David secretly prostrated himself in lust with Bathsheba on that fatal eve his dying child was conceived.
David reacts to the child’s death in a manner that baffles his advisors. He rises. He bathes. He changes his clothes. He, the anointed of God, anoints himself anew and worships God. These actions demonstrate how those who have mourned for their sins must allow God to restore them: First, God raises the grieving sinner and bears him to Himself. Next, He washes away the guilt of our sin and clothes us in His righteousness. He anoints us with His Spirit so that we may worship Him.
David’s fall into sin begins and ends with a bath. This final washing, however, is not a prelude to sin but a sign of a clean heart.
What hope do David’s bathing, garment change, and anointing give us? Why can we who have been washed clean by Jesus have full assurance that we may come worship Him?
| MONDAY | May 9 |
For a whole year, David hides his sin under a veil of deceit. It looks as though the king has gotten away with murder. Sin hardens David’s heart to stone. But God sends Nathan to break it. Instead of directly exposing David’s sin—and risking royal wrath and very likely his own neck—Nathan clothes the truth in a parable.
Read Nathan’s parable in 2 Samuel 12:1–12 and its interpretation, keeping in mind that Jesus also resorted to parables. What are the advantages of using them? What was it about David’s condition that made clothing the truth in a story a more effective, even necessary, way of reaching him?
Only a few verses long, Nathan’s parable holds precious lessons for reaching the sin-hardened heart. First, Nathan does not come to David as an accuser; instead, he humbly and tactfully solicits David’s help. David’s heart may be hardened by sin, but his sense of justice is not completely deadened. Second, by clothing the truth in a parable, Nathan breaches David’s defenses. Third, Nathan’s method of presentation invites David to listen without feeling judged. The result? David condemns himself.
Nathan's verdict, “Thou art the man,” rips through the veil of self-deceit in which David shrouded himself. David’s response, “I have sinned against the Lord” is met with “the Lord also has put away your sin” (vs. 13, NKJV). Why was the Lord able to put away, or cover, David’s sin? See 1 John 1:9.
David’s sin is covered, but the child conceived in sin must die. For David, this tragedy must have been more bitter than his own death. He removes his kingly robes and puts on the garments of humility and mourning. He openly prostrates himself before God in repentance, pleading for his child’s life. How ironic that, a year earlier, under the cover of darkness, David secretly prostrated himself in lust with Bathsheba on that fatal eve his dying child was conceived.
David reacts to the child’s death in a manner that baffles his advisors. He rises. He bathes. He changes his clothes. He, the anointed of God, anoints himself anew and worships God. These actions demonstrate how those who have mourned for their sins must allow God to restore them: First, God raises the grieving sinner and bears him to Himself. Next, He washes away the guilt of our sin and clothes us in His righteousness. He anoints us with His Spirit so that we may worship Him.
David’s fall into sin begins and ends with a bath. This final washing, however, is not a prelude to sin but a sign of a clean heart.
What hope do David’s bathing, garment change, and anointing give us? Why can we who have been washed clean by Jesus have full assurance that we may come worship Him?
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