YOU ARE THE MAN! 2 Samuel 12
You Are The Man! 2 Samuel 12
If you believe you have a right understanding of a given set of facts on a particular issue and you are trying to convince someone who is completely blind with their own data or disposition, what is the process you use to make them see more clearly? How do you turn them around to seeing things from a different angle or point of view? I am not talking about convincing people of your opinion, but persuading them to see reason and to look at the set of facts in a different light. Good debaters and lawyers are very good at this.
It only takes someone pointing something out in a right setting and circumstances to convince people. The trick is discerning the right setting and circumstances.
This passage, with respect to David’s adultery with Bathsheba, sets the scene for so much of the history and the tragic consequences to not only his family, but the direction of Israel as a nation.
What’s the background? For David, life in Jerusalem was now one of ease and blessing. All the hard work of battles and the climb and final fight warding of the Jebusite inhabitants had happened. That was like a distant memory. He was the King over Israel, and as we read last week, he began to gather more wives and concubines, began having more sons and daughters. He was middle aged, probably in his late forties or fifties; not as young and fit as he used to be, but still had a fair amount of energy and strength to use up. He had been asked to stay away from the battles, by his commander Joab, because it was actually a risk to have him on the battlefield. Rather than take care of himself, others needed to support him and it was too much of a risk to potentially have the king of Israel’s life taken from them. As such, he was told to stay in Jerusalem. This was where the tragedy happened.
In 2 Samuel 11, David saw a beautiful woman bathing, he inquired of her and found she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. That didn’t discourage David; he was the king, and he could have whatever and whomever he liked. He chose to sleep with Uriah’s wife. Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife, fell pregnant with David’s child. David called Uriah back from the battle and tried to get him to sleep with his wife and hopefully cover his sin; but Uriah was honourable, he slept at the king’s door. Why? Because Joab and all the army were doing the same on the battlefield. When David saw this plan didn’t work, he sent a letter by Uriah’s hand asking Joab to send Uriah into the heat of battle and have the men withdraw from him, so he would be killed. David knew Uriah wouldn’t read the letter in transit – he was a man of honour, and he also knew that Uriah would willingly go into the heat of the battle, why? Because Uriah is one of the thirty mighty men listed in in 2 Samuel 23:37. He was not mentioned in this position by accident. The Holy Spirit made sure his name was there.
Nathan discerned the time and used tact in his approach to David. In 2 Samuel 12:1-12, how did Nathan deal with his leader? Firstly, he picked his timing. The child was born, so we are at 10 months or so from David’s sin of adultery and murder. Timing is vital. David felt secure in himself and certainly thought he had gotten away with his sin. He was vulnerable to appeal using logic. Discern when to talk to someone. In the heat of argument is not the best time, you are not open to reason. Discern the person: Jesus said, “don’t throw your pearls to pigs lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6) Some people don’t care about you, your feelings, truth or what is valuable to you. Don’t waste it on them.
Secondly, Nathan appealed to David’s sense of justice; he appealed to David’s role as ruler over the nation. David knew the Law. In fact, he had to write his copy of the Law as the king. (Deuteronomy 17:17, 18) Right after it says “he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” It says "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.”
He took David on a journey, via a story that has a logical, rational conclusion. David was clearly going to respond with what was just. David did so, but added a vengeful twist. The guy in the story only took a lamb. David said, not only should he pay back 4-fold (the Law in Exodus 22:4 said only 2-fold, which he knew well), but not only that, he added that the individual should die.
See where David’s heart is at. Often our sin makes us unreasonable and vengeful. Hurting people cause pain, don’t they? Or should I say, don’t we? Because if we are honest with ourselves, we have all been there.
Nathan said - You are the man!! It’s you, you’re the guy. Then explained what he did with Bathsheba, adultery, covering it up with murder: far worse than a lost sheep, which you said the person should die for. The weight of David’s response rested heavily on him without Nathan having to say the words, “What then should be done with you?” – you adulterous murderer. Nathan’s wisdom in his approach saved the king and the nation from ruin, albeit with heavy consequences.
You are the man! Things took an immediate turn for David. (verses 14-25) The child died after David fasted and prayed. Family strife and tragedy followed, as we shall see. All of this is wrapped up in the judgement pronounced upon David by the prophet Nathan in this morning’s reading.
David, when writing his Psalm of repentance over his sin with Bathsheba and the confrontation of his sin by Nathan said, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:3, 4)
David knew that it was the Lord he needed to address directly with his sin. This is the start of restoration and healing. We will never stop falling short of offending others, saying or doing the wrong thing. What we need to cultivate within ourselves is a spirit of repentance of personal sin and reconciliation, firstly with God and then with others. The other thing is…
Got a godly “Nathan” in your life? Mentoring and accountability within the life of a Christian is vital for personal growth in Christ.
But more than that, become a “Nathan”. Use God’s wisdom with respect to the time, place or posture of your words to draw out someone’s heart. It takes time and maturity, but we are all called to do it.
The best example of this combination of timing, words and witness, using stories to convict and convert, was Jesus. The parables were directed at the hearts of His hearers. Be like Jesus; be someone worthy of listening to. Save shallow words and actions for others.
To do that you have to know the wisdom of Christ. How do you do that? Accept Him as Saviour, then read His Word. The Word and the Holy Spirit then allow you to change the world one person at a time - beginning with us.