2 Samuel 12:7, commentary and pictures

After Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb led David to condemn the wrongdoer and pass sentence on himself without seeing himself in it, Nathan applied it directly by declaring that David himself was the man. The charge exposed his grievous crimes in taking Uriah's wife and having Uriah killed, and was spoken not as his own word but as God's sent messenger with Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. In the same utterance he set before David God's favors in anointing him king over Israel and delivering him from Saul, upbraiding him for abusing mercy whose authority was given to be exercised only in harmony with divine law. It is the pattern for plain, pointed rebuke that names sin and sets testimony home to the individual by name instead of resting in general preaching, requiring fearless speech without flattery, excusing, or crying peace when God has not spoken peace. The words brought sudden overwhelming conviction that left David without defense, and he bore it with humility without turning against the prophet, confessing with sincere grief and repentance toward God, and though forgiven and spared, he was still punished because past favor does not excuse transgression.

Nathan Confronts David

Nathan told David the parable of the ewe lamb and let him condemn the wrongdoer in the story, leading him to pass sentence on himself without recognizing himself in it. He heard the story without realizing it spoke of himself and judged what should be done to the man in it, and had he realized the application his judgment would have been different. The story set before him a figure of his own case so that general recognition of wrongdoing did not yet become self-application until the personal identification came.

He then applied the story directly by identifying David himself as the guilty man, exposing him as the wrongdoer he had failed to see in himself. That personal charge confronted him with sin against God and fellow men and brought sudden conviction of grave crime with overwhelming guilt. The charge concerned his grievous crimes involving Bath-sheba and Uriah the Hittite, in taking Uriah's wife and having Uriah killed through Joab's battle plan. Joab sent a carefully worded report to hide responsibility, and David excused the death as the ordinary chance of war and told Joab to strengthen the battle and overthrow the city.

He spoke not his own words but as God's sent messenger, watchman and herald, with Thus saith the Lord God of Israel. The reproof was the keenest, sharpest and most resolute, given him by God and spoken contrary to his own nature, even though David was a king ruling kingdoms. In the same utterance he laid before David the favors God had bestowed on him, upbraiding him for abusing and misapplying divine mercies. Specifically God had anointed him king over Israel and delivered him out of the hand of Saul and rescued him from Saul.

That royal position and authority were given by God to be exercised only in harmony with divine law, so position did not excuse conduct. Even while still holding God-given authority, David had departed from God and yielded himself to the wicked one and become for the time the agent of Satan in commanding Uriah's death. When as God's agent turned agent of Satan he commanded what was contrary to God's law, it became sin to obey him, since the obedience he claimed on the ground of his position would imperil the soul of him who yielded it. His method of concealing direct rebuke in a parable and letting the hearer judge himself was later used by Christ with Simon, so that Simon could see his guilt was greater than the woman's. The scene presents the prophet speaking emphatically while the king appears distressed and reflective.

Pattern for Faithful Rebuke

The declaration to David is the pattern for straight, pointed testimony set home to individuals by name. It teaches that sin must be plainly rebuked and personally identified, with the guilty warned of danger by reproof, rebuke, censure and warning. General preaching alone is not enough, nor is addressing a congregation without singling out the responsible person. Shunning such pointed testimony to sympathize with and shield the disaffected and crooked from deserved reproof makes a man weak and out of harmony with duty.

God's messengers must speak the truth entrusted to them directly and fearlessly, naming sin and reproving, rebuking, censuring, warning and exhorting whatever the consequences. Such plain confrontation must not be left unspoken to preserve approval or to avoid anger and unpleasant results. When this kind of rebuke is rare and almost unheard, the church misses the power of God that would be seen if it were common. True love seeks first God's honor and the salvation of souls, and does not evade truth when souls in peril are in danger.

Faithful rebuke refuses love for approbation and desire to please men, refuses to suppress the truth, flatter, dissemble, excuse or palliate evil, and refuses to cry peace and safety when God has not spoken peace. It exposes evil without excusing it, and when souls are in peril it does not consider self or evade unpleasant results. Ministers are divinely appointed messengers to follow the example of Nathan with Elijah and John the Baptist. Laboring in Christ's stead as stewards of the mysteries of heaven, they encourage the obedient and warn the disobedient, speaking not their own words but Thus saith the Lord, giving no weight to worldly policy, going forward in faith surrounded by a cloud of witnesses and bearing the message faithfully regardless of consequences though it calls for the sacrifice of all they have.

Those whom the Lord has placed in responsible positions must faithfully discharge their God-given responsibility to reprove sin and not connive at it by letting it pass unreproved. They must apply the direct warning to themselves without evading it out of fear or favor when their conduct departs from God's word and pure principles. If they shield others from deserved reproof and those shielded fail to reform, that failure is laid to their account, and the Lord holds them accountable for the sins that remain and the evils resulting from them. When teaching general principles does not set things right because those needing reform are fixed in the idea that their own way is perfect and do not apply the teaching to themselves, plain, decided personal accusation is necessary. Such direct testimony convicts of specific wrongs such as wrong preparation of food and failure in health reform, makes a decided stir, and exposes responsibility.

Conviction Repentance Accountability

The declaration struck David with sudden conviction, exposing his grave crime and humbling him with an overwhelming sense of guilt that left him without defense. No sensational songs or humorous anecdotes were used to move feeling; a figure of his own case was set before him, he was led to pass sentence upon himself, and then the charge was brought directly home. That exposure saved him from continuing unconvicted toward ruin, and he repented for the rest of his life.

Before that direct reproof he had only flashes of guilt with reproof upon his conscience, and he had excused his sin to himself without compunction working true heart repentance. Recognizing the seriousness of sin is necessary for true repentance and thorough conversion. God's favor does not excuse transgression, and past righteousness cannot save one who turns from righteousness to do evil.

He bore the rebuke with the spirit of a converted man, accepting the full charge with humility and meekness and with fear and trembling at the word of the Lord. He humbled himself under correction and did not turn against the prophet, though surrounding rulers would have used throne and unlimited power to take the reprover's life. Faithful portrayal of his true state made him aware of his sins and helped him put them away, and he learned wisdom through God's dealings and chastisement.

He acknowledged guilt with sincere grief rather than excuses, repented before God whose law he had broken, and relied for pardon on the efficacy of Christ's blood. He kept his transgression before him with bitter cries of anguish and despair, making a humiliating confession. He entreated forgiveness in dust and ashes, openly confessed before the great men and even servants of his kingdom, and composed and published a penitential psalm recounting his sin and repentance so after generations would be instructed by the sad history and learn in whom was his trust and hope for pardon.

God forgave him after humble confession and spared his life, but did not justify or excuse his sins. Punishment remained because he had given the Lord's enemies occasion to blaspheme. Warning and chastisement were meant to lead to repentance, not despair, and were accompanied by mercy. His strength lay in sincere contrition and trust in God's mercy as just and merciful, not in never falling into temptation.

The declaration acts as a mirror revealing true character, exposing how judgment is passed upon another without self-knowledge. David heard the story without realizing it spoke of himself and condemned the man in it, and had he realized it spoke of him his judgment would have been different. People may recognize wrongdoing in general and judge what should be done, yet fail to apply the lesson to themselves unless they examine their spiritual position and conduct. Asking who informed the reprover of one's faults shows not being right before God, and rather than looking at others people should examine and do the work required at home and in the church.

The personal charge comes close with startling truth to those who go only so far in faith and try to hold with both church and world, exposing choosing one's own way above God's requirements, keeping mental reservations, putting business and idols first, and keeping a heart with the world while conscience sides with truth. It urges conversion and separation from the world, lest when church and world separate they be swept away with the world. Turning from God's revealed will after once keeping His Word brings accountability and stains a good reputation.

The same direct charge is for people entrusted with responsibility when conduct departs from God's word and pure principles, and for careless, world-loving people, to be applied to oneself without evasion from fear or favor. When sin is exposed the one warned recognizes the charge applies to him and that he is in danger. The warning may move him through the Holy Spirit, but prolonged resistance and clinging to old habits can wear away its effect and leave indifference to danger. Those on dangerous ground let Satan take the warning from heart and mind, see no real force in it, let feeling rise against God, and refuse to obey His voice.