Speaking, and Hearing, the Truth in Love
2 Samuel 12:1-15
Darrin Mariott, Lead Pastor
Big Idea: If we are to address sin and grow in the Lord, then we must be willing to speak, and hear, the truth in love.
2 Samuel 12:1-15
1 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.10 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.’11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.”15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.
I. David is Caught (vv. 1-7)
A. In the months following David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, he tries to hide from his sin. But God has not forgotten the evil David has done, so He sends Nathan to confront David that he may repent and face the consequences of his actions.
B. Unconfessed sin has an impact on our lives in that it:
1. Obstructs the blessings of God (cf. Ps. 32:1-5).
Psalm 32:1-5
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
2. Distorts our view of God and of reality (cf. Heb. 3:12-13).
Hebrews 3:12-13
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
3. Hinders our spiritual growth (cf. Isa. 59:2).
Isaiah 59:2
2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
II. David is Confronted (vv. 7-12)
A. Nathan’s parable was a brilliant approach in confronting David. The story was crafted to shock David by highlighting the injustice of the rich man’s actions and served to force David to reveal his judgment on the matter, not realizing that David was actually passing judgment on himself.
B. In confronting David, we see Nathan:
1. Prompt David to take the log out of his own eye (cf. Matt. 7:1-5).
Matthew 7:1-5
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
2. Prompt David to see his sin from God’s perspective.
C. As Jesus’s disciples, it is important that we do not ignore our own failings all the while condemning the failings of others. We need to acknowledge and confess our own sin (cf. Lk. 18:9-14).
Luke 18:9-14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
III. David’s Confession (vv. 13-15)
A. In surrendering to temptation, David had sinned against the Lord. Unlike Saul who made excuses for his disobedience, David recognized his sin when confronted and repented of it.
B. In David’s confession we see:
1. Personal acceptance of responsibility (v. 13).
2. Recognition of God’s righteousness (v. 13).
C. This narrative reminds us of an important Gospel truth; That even in the darkest sin, there is always the hope of redemption and renewal through Messiah Jesus (cf. Eph. 1:7-9).
Ephesians 1:7-9
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ