Rise and Fall: Beware of the Traveler
2 Samuel 12
April 14, 2024
Jay Haugh
No one is too young, too old, or too spiritually mature to make destructive choices.
…the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. —2 Samuel 11:27 ESV
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. —Psalm 32:3-4 ESV
And the Lord sent Nathan to David. —2 Samuel 12:1 ESV
God often lets the grinding wheels of sin do its work and then He steps in.
God uses a person to lead a vile sinner to repentance in order to bring restoration.
He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 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. —2 Samuel 12:1-3 ESV
The rich man with many flocks and sheep is David and the poor man with one ewe lamb is Uriah.
“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.” —2 Samuel 12:4 ESV
This is a “traveler” that receives hospitality and before you know it, it takes your best and your all!
The “traveler” is sin.
Sin comes as a “traveler” and in no time becomes master of your manor.
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 die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” —2 Samuel 12:5-6 ESV
David is enraged because the man took what didn’t belong to him.
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. 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.’ —2 Samuel 12:7-8 ESV
God gave David everything.
‘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.’ —2 Samuel 12:9 ESV
David is responsible for Uriah’s death.
‘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.’ 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. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” —2 Samuel 12:10-12 ESV
God is going to publicly humiliate this man.
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” —2 Samuel 12:13 ESV
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. —Psalm 51:4 ESV
God punishes, but is gracious.
And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” —2 Samuel 12:13 ESV
The moment David confesses, God forgives.
“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” —2 Samuel 12:13 ESV
“Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. —2 Samuel 12:14-15 ESV
Big Idea:
To the one who confesses and repents of sin, God will ALWAYS extend forgiveness.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Memory Verse: 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
These questions aim to foster meaningful discussion and encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read 2 Samuel 12:1-14
How does living with a concealed sin make you feel? Can you relate to the way David feels in Psalm 32:1-4? Why do people choose to carry the weight of their sin instead of coming to the cross with it?
God cares too much about us not to confront us in our sin. Are you a confrontational or non-confrontational person? Have you ever been on the receiving end of confrontation? What was that like? How did you respond? Have you ever experienced a confrontation from God and recognized it as His grace in your life?
Nathan is sent with a message that will lead David to repentance. Instead of leading with accusations, Nathan chose to confront David with a parable. What can we learn from Nathan’s approach that might help us confront others in a way that will resonate with them? When should we approach others about sin in their life?
Psalm 51 is written after Nathan confronts David. While David’s sin impacted others, he writes, “Against you, you alone, I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight.” How does this help us understand the deeper spiritual wound that is caused when we sin? Without Christ, what would be the result of our sin? If you were to share with a non-believer about the consequence of their sin, what would you say?
In response to the metaphorical story Nathan tells, David becomes furious at the rich man’s actions. Why do you think David is able to see the injustice so clearly in this fictional scenario? When Nathan reveals that David is the one who has sinned, what is David’s initial response? How does this compare to his reaction in the parable?
David was able to clearly see another’s sin but was ignorant of his own. What factors do you think contribute to someone being blind to their own sin? What is your response when confronted with your own sin? How can we cultivate a heart that is more aware of our own shortcomings and more open to correction?
David repents after Nathan confronts him. Is there anything we can do better as a Small Group to cultivate a safe space where each person can feel comfortable confessing their sin? What does repentance look like beyond simply apologizing?
God recounts for David a sliver of the blessings He provided and said He would have provided more. Did God fall short in His blessings for David? How do we go looking for happiness outside of the provisions God has blessed us with? When we sin, what does our behavior communicate to God?