Jump Start # 1416

2 Samuel 12:5-6 “Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.”

  We come to the end of our study of David, Bathsheba and Uriah. As the chapter twelve begins, Uriah has been killed. David married Bathsheba and she had their baby. Time has past. David’s lips remain silent about all the sins that he has committed. God is waiting and David remains silent. Life moves on, but the relationship between the Lord and David is not the same. It can never be the same as long as we hold sin in our hearts. David has done what many of us do. We move on. We put the wrong behind us. We find things that bring joy back into our lives. We don’t want to talk about the wrong, think about the wrong, nor dwell upon the wrong. However, it’s there. It’s always there. Sin doesn’t evaporate with time. We may not feel as guilty down the road as we did when we first did wrong, but the sin remains. We can even forget about the wrong. God doesn’t. More than nine months had passed by and David hasn’t repented, apologized nor sought the mercy of God. Nothing. A child is born. Finally, God breaks the silence by sending the prophet Nathan.

In a classic move on how to deal with a touchy situation, Nathan tells the story of a wealthy shepherd who stole his neighbor’s only lamb. The lamb was a household pet. It was killed by the neighbor and used as a feast for friends. Hearing this story angers David. How could one of his citizens be so callous, cold and lacking compassion. David’s words are, from our verse today, “Surely the man who has done this deserves to die.” Those words are likewise callous, cold and lacking compassion. Executing someone for killing a pet? It doesn’t seem that the punishment David was declaring fits the crime. He further said, “He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold.” The man must do right. David fell right into the trap that Nathan wanted him to. He had declared the guilt of the man who stole from his neighbor. In a famous expression, Nathan declares to David, “Thou art the man.” You are the thief. You are the one who stole your neighbor’s only lamb. You have dozens of wives. You have everything. You took what wasn’t yours. You deserve to die.

Now, for the first time, David’s actions and sins are revealed. The prophet knew. God knew. David wasn’t getting away with it. And his own words come back to haunt him. The man who did this deserves to die. So, it is with David. He deserved to die. David breaks. He begs for forgiveness. Psalms 51 shows the brokenness of David’s heart.

God would forgive David, but there would be a trail of tragic consequences that were constant reminders of his sinful choices. The baby, sweet, innocent child, would die. This child, born out of sinful lust and to an unmarried couple would not be in line to the throne. The child dies. But there was more coming. David’s family falls apart. A son rapes David’s daughter. Another son avenges that rape by killing the rapists. A son tries to steal the throne from David and he would have to flee from Jerusalem. The end of David’s life is turmoil and not peace. His family is a mess. David could conquer the world but not those who sat at his table. All this points to the consequences of his sin. One glance. One look and David paid for it the rest of his life.

Sin can be like that. A foolish dare, a sinful choice and a friend can lose their life, a person can have a criminal record, or like Bathsheba, there is a child. The few moments of sinful pleasure can take a lifetime to recover from. The college drinking can turn into a lifetime of alcoholism. The partying can lead to diseases that plague a person the rest of their life. It’s hard to see that a few moments of sin can turn a life inside out and make one miserable for a long, long time.

But through this story of David, Bathsheba and Uriah, there is the Lord. He knew of the righteous and loyal Uriah, who died innocently. He knew of the sweet baby who died, innocent and pure. He knew the heart of David when he finally broke. God was there. God was there to forgive David. God was there to pick up the pieces and stand him up on his feet again.

David said that the man who stole the lamb would have to repay four fold. He would owe the neighbor four sheep for stealing the one. Great words. Good advice. Part of the Law. However, some things cannot be restored. The sin may be forgiven, but restitution is not possible. How would David restore to Uriah four fold? Uriah was dead? How would David make it right to Bathsheba for killing her husband? Saying, “I’m sorry,” sometimes just doesn’t seem enough. The pain and consequences of some sins is that things can never be the same again. Never.

It is interesting that David would have more children. Solomon was to be born. Then there was another son. His name was Nathan, the same as the prophet who God sent to David. Of all the names, Nathan was chosen. Nathan, a reminder that God wasn’t through with David. Nathan, a reminder of God’s goodness and forgiveness. Nathan, a reminder of a dark time in David’s life that God extended mercy to. Nathan, a reminder of a story about a stolen lamb. He named his son, Nathan.

It took a lot of courage for Nathan to face the king. He took a lot of faith to say those words, “You are the man.”  There are times in our lives when we stand both in David’s shoes and Nathan’s shoes. There are times when we must confront family and friends about wrongs they have done. To say nothing leaves the impression that we think it’s ok. To say nothing is to allow a soul to continue on a path away from God. You who are spiritual, the Galatians were told, restore such a one. That’s our time to put on the Nathan shoes. Do it kindly. Do it Biblically. But do it. Don’t tell others, with the hope that someone else will take care of the messy job. If you love, and you know, you go. Speak, not with harshness and pointed fingers. Don’t go with the intention of killing a soul and accusing. Go with the hopes of restoring, changing and helping. Go as you would want one to go to you. We are in this together. We need to have each other’s backs. We need to know that my family in Christ loves me too much to let me do what is wrong. There are times when you must put on the Nathan shoes.

Then there are the days when we must put on David’s shoes. We have been out of line. We were wrong. Our attitudes were sour and harsh. Our words were judgmental and wrong. We did wrong. Thank the Lord for the Nathan’s in your life. They come to help. They are scared. They are afraid that we will counter attack them. They are afraid that their words will end a friendship. They are afraid but love us too much to be silent. When the Nathan comes, listen. Don’t interrupt. Don’t start digging for excuses. Don’t hide behind lame and false lies. Don’t look for ways to point the finger back. Listen. Open your heart. If Nathan is correct, then be corrected. Apologize with him. Pray to God with him. Thank him. Change. He may have just saved your life. Afterwards, reassure your relationship with him. Let him know that you are not thinking less of him. Nothing needs to be said about this any more. Forgiveness means it’s gone. Nathan needs to keep quiet. David needs to keep quiet. Together, praise the Lord for second chances. We all need them. God doesn’t kick us out of life for our sins. Neither should we. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love restores. Love sees the big picture. Love wants you in Heaven.

David, Bathsheba and Uriah. What powerful lessons there are for us in these Scriptures. I hope you have enjoyed this series. I hope it has helped you, encouraged you, taught you and made you reflect. The lessons of temptation, sin, consequences and forgiveness are the themes of the Bible. These very topics are our story. These are the things we face, often daily.

May God help us to have a heart that longs for Him.

Roger