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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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2 Samuel 12:7
“Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’”
David had a heart after God but he was not perfect.
He suffered temptation just like the rest of us and on this occasion, he fell for it completely.
Chapter 11 begins, “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab...” So started the train of events, which leads to our text. David was relaxing instead of fighting. Then he wandered around his balcony instead of sleeping. Then he found out more about the naked woman he saw instead of ignoring her. Then he slept with her instead of leaving her alone for her husband. And then she became pregnant.
Have you noticed - it is almost impossible to commit one sin. He ordered Bathsheba’s husband back from the war in the hope that he would sleep with her and cover his sin. ‘Unfortunately’ for David, Uriah was a man of integrity and didn’t ‘meekly follow’ David’s plans. Instead of sleeping with her, he slept outside because he would not enjoy pleasures his fellow army comrades could not enjoy.
Instead of apologising and submitting himself to Uriah, David sent him back to the front line with orders for his own ‘self-destruction’. David made him carry the letter to Joab, which ordered Joab to put Uriah in the heat of the battle and then to withdraw, leaving him there to die. That was murder, on top of adultery and treachery.
When Bathsheba learnt of her husband’s death, she mourned for a while and then David brought her into his own home, as his wife.
Chapter 11 ends “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”
We cannot sin in secret. God knows everything.
Then came David’s biggest test. Nathan, the prophet, arrived and told David a very emotional story about a poor man having his one and only sheep taken from him by a wealthy stock, sheep and land owner who then killed it for part of a meal he was preparing for some of his friends. David interrupted because he was livid. “How dare anyone do such a thing? He deserves to die!”
“You are the man!” Nathan replied. He then went on to explain to David that he had done exactly that when he ‘took’ Bathsheba. David then realised his wrong - “I have sinned against the Lord,” he replied (2 Samuel 12:13). He passed the test. He didn’t try to explain it away, he didn’t blame Bathsheba - He owned up to his sin.
Because of that, God forgave him. David didn’t die but his son did. Not only that, there were other terrible consequences, but David was forgiven.
If we sin - it is best to own up straight away. We can neither fool God nor hide it from Him. But remember, though He will forgive us, the repercussions and consequences may still be painful. (See also 1 John 1:9.)
It’s better not to sin in the first place. Keep on your guard.
Especially when you are relaxing on your own.
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