Read: 2 Samuel 12 & Psalm 51
Chapter 12 continues the story
of David and Bathsheba. David has taken care of business. He has covered his tracks.
Perhaps he had squelched his conscience with the idea that his actions weren’t
actually that bad: he had gotten himself a new wife and a baby was on the way!
What could be better than a new little prince or princess running around? But
the All-Seeing knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him and He has the
power to cast our sins as far as the east is from the west… or to shout them
out from every rooftop. In David’s case, He chose the way of a prophet. Nathan
comes to David with a story, and David’s response reveals the duplicity of his
life: he rages out against the injustice of the rich man, all the while shoving
his own injustice further under the rug. But Nathan’s word is not his own; He
has been sent by God and has been given a word of knowledge – a direct picture into
David’s past. In the name of the Lord, Nathan rebukes David’s sin, declaring
out loud what David has worked so hard to hide. David is charged with despising the word of the Lord and doing
what is evil in God’s sight.
Interesting… David, who has received the
word of the Lord through songs of prophecy and worship, has now shown loathing
towards that precious word. The shepherd boy who wrote line after line about
loving and meditating on God’s law now stands in opposition to that law. His
actions are unholy and evil; he has acted like one of the many enemies he has
penned about in his psalms.
Like a child caught
deliberately disobeying his parent, David needs no warning or second chances. He
opposed his Father’s heart and violated half of God’s ten primary moral
commands. His actions require punishment and the punishment fits the crime:
because of David’s sin and unrepentant heart, strife and bloodshed will
characterize his household. A family member will rise up against David. Someone
will capture his wives and sleep with them in broad daylight. And these
punishments will be observed by the entire nation. Before Nathan even finishes
describing the consequences, David’s heart melts and softens. His eyes are
opened to his wicked rebellion and he humbles himself before God: “I have sinned against the LORD” he
says. Nathan declares God’s forgiveness, but he must tell David the final
consequence: Bathsheba’s child will die.
The events and consequences of
this story are horrible, but the outcome – on a heart level – is truly
wonderful. Chapter 11 left us wondering about David’s future. Would he become
like King Saul, his wicked and jealous predecessor? Saul and Pharaoh are two
biblical characters famous for hardening their hearts towards God. After
multiple personal decisions to become hardened, God gave them up to their rebellion.
Would David end up the same way? In 2 Samuel 12:1-14, David’s life is at a
crossroads. Will he deny Nathan’s accusation and use his kingly power to have
the prophet removed from his presence, maybe even killed? He does not. Instead,
he confesses his sin. But then he hears the most heart wrenching punishment of
all – his new baby will die. Will he resent God and harden his heart for good?
In the rest of the chapter and in Psalm 51 we see the pivotal choice that David
made to humble himself and repent of his sin.
Psalm 51 is David’s deep and
heartfelt prayer in response to Nathan’s rebuke. It is a stunning and emotional
prayer when read along with 2 Samuel 11 and 12. Through it, and the remainder
of chapter 12, we see that David had a solid view of God. He had not stumbled in impurity or anger; David had
fallen flat on his face and committed some of the worst sins a person can
commit. When he saw his pride and wickedness he truly humbled himself. And we see this by the way he turned to God.
When we know we have sinned, humility is admitting it to God and throwing
ourselves at His feet. It is pride and shame that keeps us from going to him
after we sin. As Max Lucado writes: “Pride and shame. You’d never know they are
sisters… Pride says, ‘You’re too good for him.’ Shame says, ‘You’re too bad for
him.’ Pride drives you away. Shame keeps you away. If pride is what goes before
a fall, then shame is what keeps you from getting up after one.” (Max Lucado, “He Did This Just For You.”) David has
recognized his pride, and instead of falling to her sister, he chooses humility
and presents himself before God. He stands a sinner before the Holy One because
he knows that God is abundant in
mercy and steadfast in love. He knows that no matter what he has done, if he
repents, God will forgive him. It is within God’s very nature to forgive the
repentant heart. This story is a remarkable revelation of God’s mercy. Many
people read the laws found in the Old Testament and feel God is a mean,
distant, confusing “guy in the sky”. But God’s laws were for the protection and
preservation of His people, and for the glory of His name. Punishment for sin
was severe in the law, but there was so much room for His grace. In David’s
case, the law demanded his death (Lev. 20:10). But in response to David’s
repentance, God shows great mercy. And so David pours out his heart beautifully
before his God, asking boldly that God would forget his sins, cleanse his heart
and renew his spirit which has fallen away. It is with this heart that he
prays, also, that his child would not die. He knows God has the power to
retract the consequence and save the child, but he will accept what God decides.
And meanwhile, he will continue to praise the Lord and sing of God’s
righteousness. He even ends his psalm with a prayer for his people. As a
leader, he knows that his actions affect the nation and that as their king, God
holds him to a high standard. And so he prays for his people, that God would do
good to them and delight in their sacrifices. Essentially he is praying that
his people would learn his lesson: that God delights in the sacrifice of
humility, repentance and submission.
It is with great gladness that
we can read this story. If this is the response of a liar, adulterer and
murderer made aware of his sin, should we not respond the same way when our
eyes are opened to our own sin? The God who showed mercy and love to David is
our God. Yes, David would reap very hard consequences for these sins, but God
would not leave him. Neither did God remove the promise and blessing of 2
Samuel 7. God’s faithfulness and love remain despite our wickedness. But we
must turn to Him in our sin and weakness. We must say “No!” to pride which
would have us try and save ourselves. And we must say “No!” to shame which
would have us wallow in self-pity and condemnation. Let us turn our eyes to our
great God who is mighty to save even the worst of sinners!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Take
some time to be quiet before the Lord and ask Him to speak to you based on what
you have read. Is there something specific or personal He wants to say to you.
Invite Him to move in your heart however He pleases.
2. Based
on Psalm 51, what are some things about God that David knew to be true? Write
these things down. Thank God for these qualities. Thank Him that these things
are still true about Him.
3. Ask
God how either pride or shame has kept you away from Him. Tell him that you are
sorry. Take time to spend in His presence and just talk to Him about what is on
your heart today.
