2 Samuel 12:1-4 – Being God’s instrument to correct

In that one year after he had killed Uriah and took his wife, no word was said about how David felt. He literally lived about a year without even a hint of remorse for what he had done to an innocent man. How do we know it was about a year? In 2 Samuel 12:14, we learn that the child Bathsheba conceived from the adultery was already born. It was then that Nathan, the prophet, was sent by God to speak to him. Just imagine that God allowed him to go about his merry way for about a year without a word. Didn’t David’s conscience disturb him at any time in that one year? Did he at any moment feel bad about what he had done to Uriah, his faithful soldier? Didn’t David feel perturbed about what he did to Uriah, every time he held Bathsheba in his bosom in that one year? Apparently not. Thankfully, in sending Nathan, we see the heart of God. He loved David far too much to allow him to rot in sin. Not especially when He had raised him to lead His covenant people. Not especially when God could see that he was a man after God’s own heart.

So God sent Nathan to speak to David. Nathan came on the behest of God who was displeased with David for all that he had done. He went before the unsuspecting king not because he was sent for by David but in obedience to God. This prophet was the right spokesman of God. To appear before a king to reveal his sin must be an uncomfortable moment. It calls for wisdom, wits, and courage. And Nathan seemed to have it all. He was a culminate diplomat. Just see how tactfully he led David to patiently hear his story. Had he confronted the king directly it would have stirred up his anger or elicited a denial. So discreetly Nathan told him a story of how a rich man treated his poor neighbor just to entertain a visiting friend. Nathan so artfully and entertainingly told his story that unsuspecting David could not see that the joke was on him. The story was hinting to David that despite possessing so much yet to gratify his own desire, he would covet and take away that one and only precious possession that Uriah had. Here are some pertinent questions to ask. Do we dare to confront a leader when he has committed an obvious wrong? When we do it what should our approach be to disarm his defensiveness? Like Nathan, we certainly need the same wisdom, wits, and courage he had.   

Can we see the heart of God? Like David, God also loves every one of us too much to allow us to be hurt and devoured by our sins. We must not presume on God’s silence and think that it meant His approval. The truth in life is this: in due course, all sin will be found out. God will never allow us to go unchecked even when we disregard all good senses and go about gratifying our fallen nature. So for our own good, do not let sin make us turn a deaf ear to the voice of God. Be aware also that God often puts us around people whom He wants to deal with. We, like Nathan, need to be ready to be His mouthpiece to correct and set a person on the right path again. When the time calls for it, be sure to do it boldly and courageously, and so do so with wisdom and wits, guided by the Holy Spirit!