Nathan is now ready for his toughest challenge. God sent this prophet to King David on a much more serious issue. Nathan first shared a story speaking of an injustice of a rich man who took a little ewe lamb of a poor man. David reasoned as a King and protector of his people, so he rightly responded with anger by saying that the rich man should get killed for the injustice. He didn’t expect that the table will be turned around, and he was placing himself in the hot seat of the one worthy to die!
It’s interesting how we can so easily justify our own sin or shortcomings and ignore the plank in our own eye. On the other hand, we can be quick to judge someone else’s sin or shortcomings and draw a verdict on the speck in their eye! Lord, please help us.
Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 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.’2 Samuel 12:7-10
Finally Nathan confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba and how he took the only wife of Uriah his loyal military person. I wonder how long Nathan knew about this prior to God permitting him to speak about it.
Nathan took a major risk by telling King David about this. David could have killed Nathan out of fear or anger. He could have felt threatened that others may find out about it and could have tried to get rid of Nathan. He could have denied the whole thing and accused Nathan of having ulterior motives. Most likely, Nathan counted the cost before going to King David. Despite all the possible fears or concerns, Nathan didn’t stop from doing God’s will.
Will you be able to deliver an unpopular/tough message led by the Lord to your leader? These kinds of situations are sensitive. It is important to be led by the Lord and his timing. Nathan didn’t come before the king till almost a year later when Bathsheba’s baby was already born. It requires great wisdom and discernment to handle tough situations.
Nathan loved David and was a loyal man to the King, but most importantly he loved God and was loyal to the Lord and God’s assignment to him! What I love about Nathan is that he didn’t have to confer with his friends or colleagues to see if it was a good idea or a safe time to approach the King. He did His work quietly with Lord before he was ready to come before the King. He was a true prophet!!
God placed Nathan in a strategic place for His purpose. His position wasn’t there so Nathan could feel good about himself and gain identity and security from it. He wasn’t there to be impressed by the King or become his cheerleader. Nathan was there by an assignment from God. Nathan had to have his identity and security established already in his relationship to God. Then and only then, Nathan could hear and complete all of God’s assignments to him.
Thankfully David responded with humility and received the word of the Lord from the prophet of God which led him to repentance. What if Nathan wasn’t obedient to the Lord and didn’t confront David and his sin!? Nathan’s obedience to the word of the Lord led David to obeying the word of the Lord! Our actions have a ripple effect on those around us.
Lord help us to be strong and courageous to fulfill your assignments. We choose to put you first in every one of our relationships. Guide our relationships. Purify them. Break ungodly ties even with Godly people. Help us to be free to serve you first. We want our obedience to have a ripple effect of obedience on those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.