After someone has fallen morally, God in his grace raises up faithful friends. For David it was the prophet Nathan.
2 Samuel 12: Nathan Rebukes David
1 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.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 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.
4 Now there came a traveller 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."
7 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.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'
11 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 neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'"
13 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."
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
David's Child Dies And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick.
16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm."
19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."
20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food."
22 He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?'
23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
Solomon's Birth
24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him
25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
Rabbah Is Captured
26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.
28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name."
29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.
30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.
31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labour with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Things to think about…
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend”, Prov 27:6. Such were the wounds Nathan inflicted upon David as he tells him that he is the unjust rich man Nathan described in his parable, 2Sam 12:1-7. Sometimes telling someone directly about their sin is not the best way. A better way is to appeal to their own conscience and sense of moral values that are not directly related to the issue at hand. The Lord is then given space to do a work on the heart. Always the best formula.
Note David’s sense of justice was extreme. He says the man should die and restore fourfold, 2Sam 12:5. The Mosaic Law says that in such a case of theft the man should not die, but restore fourfold Ex 22:1. When a person is struggling with sin, their sense of justice towards others is generally harsh to the extreme. This is more as a result of guilt than being motivated by justice. Such was the case with David. Praise God that His justice has fallen upon His Son that we may have life. Rejoice!
The child died as the Lord had said. No amount of fasting or praying on David’s behalf changed a thing, 2Sam 12:16, 17. The child was not at fault and the immoral father had repented, why this loss. The only answer is that the Lord’s decree will stand “His ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts…” Isa 55:8,9. But look at the hope and the comfort. David says “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me”, 2Sam 12:23. I get great comfort from this verse. I believe it is more than just physical death that that David speaks about here, but an eternal abiding place of rest. God has mercy on the unborn and the infant. Let’s trust that the God of mercy has a special place in glory for these ones.
Praise God that although there is a season of sorrow, there is joy in the morning. Solomon is born, 2 Sam 9:24, 25. Solomon is derived from the Hebrew word Shalomwhichmeans “peace”. The name given by Nathan is ‘Jedidiah’ – meaning “beloved of the Lord”. His birth was a mercy for both David and Bathsheba who had felt the weight of loss of their first son.
Joab still continues to go out conquering more land, 2Sam 9:26, 27. This man is faithful to the king and his honour. As such he asks that David gather himself to take the Ammonite city of Rabbah so the glory goes to him rather than to Joab, 2Sam 12:28. Men can be faithful to other men, but not necessarily faithful to the Lord. Such was the case with Joab. Remember the Ammonites, like the Moabites who were descendants from Lot’s incest with his daughters who had Moab and Ben-ammi as sons, Gen 19:36-38. Here the prophecy that they would be not be a part Israel was fulfilled, Dt 23:3-6. Let’s not unite with a world that is anti-Christ. Let’s influence them for Christ rather than be influenced by them.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading for Sunday came from 2 Samuel 5.
1. David had finally realised the promise given to him about 22 years earlier by the prophet Samuel. The Lord calls people into areas where they can bring Him glory. Do you know that your present roles, responsibilities are being directed by the Lord? Are you experiencing His leading and blessing over your life?
2. Obeying the Lord’s will and staying faithful always involves a fight against our own sin and often the sin of others. Are you seeing victories in your own battles and those that come against you?
3. Even after David was made king of all of Israel he had just as many battles as he had before. He fought over Jerusalem, then twice against the Philistines. It was then that he started to get comfortable. What moral failures in David do we begin to see from the passage? Is material blessing always good? How do we keep it in balance, so we hold the right tension of honouring the Lord and enjoying His abundance?
4. Pray for our city and each other that God’s people will reflect love, truth and grace while maintaining a right understanding of using the battle armour and spiritual warfare that Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6..
Prayer Points
1. Clarity of life and freedoms through to the end of the year.
2. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. Ability to meet this Sunday, albeit with masks.
2. The unity and grace on display at CBC.
Announcements
1. Masks to be worn this Sunday. Freedom in the café.
2. Members’ meeting 15 Aug after thew morning service.
3. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
4. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm. Parents to contact Melinda for details.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
