[NIV] 1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he cameto him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town,
one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a verylarge number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor manhad nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought.
He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children.
It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept inhis arms. It was like a daughter to him. - P156
9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?
You struck down Uriah theHittite with the sword and took his wife to beyourown. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart fromyour house, because you despised me and took the wifeof Uriah the Hittite to be your own.‘ - P157
13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned againstthe LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken awayyour sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because bydoing this you have shown utter contempt for the LORD,
the son born to you will die."
15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck thechild that Uriah‘s wife had borne to David, and hebecame ill.
- P157
Nathan tells David a story about a rich man who takes a poor man‘s preciouslamb. David says such a man must die. Nathan tells David that he is the richman. - P157
God gave him a kingdom, but David struck down Uriah and took his wife.
- P157
Therefore, God will bring calamity upon David‘s household. David admits hissin. Nathan says that the son he bore with Uriah‘s wife will die. - P157
It is not easy to confront others about their sin, especially when theyare people of prominence and position. - P158
But there are times, like inthis story, when God clearly calls on His servants to do just that. - P158
Theprophet Nathan is sent by God to confront King David, and he obeys.
The judgment David renders on the rich man who stole the poor man‘slamb is used by the prophet to drive home the gravity of David‘s ownsin. - P158
The question is, how will David respond to Nathan‘s courageousobedience? Nathan has no way of knowing. - P158
He must simply trust andobey God‘s directions. Obedience is not always easy, and at times itdemands bold faith on our part. - P158
Many questions may arise as to why the Lord strikes the child born ofDavid‘s adulterous relationship with illness and death. - P158
Ultimately, wewould do well to leave such matters in God‘s hands and focus on thebiblical truth this story makes clear: sin brings devastating consequences. - P158
When confronted by Nathan, David immediately confesses his sin.
His confession, however, does not remove the consequences that his sinwill bring to his family and kingdom. - P158
How often, in recent years, hasthe sin of prominent spiritual leaders brought shame and reproach tothem, their families, and the church as a whole? - P158
This is what happenswhen believers, especially those in leadership, choose to compromisewith sin. - P158
Let us uphold the fear of the Lord in every sphere of our lives. - P158
Lord, whatever it takes, please teach us, Your people, the dangers of sin in ourlives and in Your church. Help us, by Your grace and through the fruit of self-control,
to say no to the temptations we face. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P158
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