Best Supporting Actor – Nathan (2 Samuel 12)
2015-07-19
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Memory Verse:
2 Samuel 12:9a
“Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?”
Today, we’ll continue our series entitled “Best Supporting Actor”. Today’s nominee is Nathan, a prophet in the time of King David. He was instrumental in calling David to establish the Temple, later putting that responsibility on Solomon (2 Samuel 7). But today, our focus is not about the Temple, it’s about a man – a man that God anointed, that God called and blessed, but a man who sinned. God used Nathan to call that man to account for what he had done, and to change his ways.
2 Samuel 12:1-14
“1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: ‘There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man 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 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! 6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.’ 7 Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. 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 adversity against you from 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, before the sun.’’ 13 So 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 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.’”
Clearly, this is a powerful story. It’s a story that gives great meaning to why we have chosen Nathan as our focus today. He provided David with what could have been the most meaningful and powerful moments in David’s life.
We know that David had a blessed life and we know of David’s amazing story. While his story was blessed and amazing to this point, David could have thrown it all away over sin. Today, let’s spend a few moments seeing why God used Nathan to change David’s life.
Nathan’s Point – His contribution to David’s life
1. Nathan pointed out David’s Hypocrisy – verses 1-5
a. Rarely are we as offended at our own sin as we are towards others’ sin
b. Sin in the church destroys our effectiveness in fulfilling our mission
What sin?
– Sexual sin – disrespecting marriage; porn, adultery, pre- and extra
– Racism – denying that God created everybody in His own image
– Jealousy
– Selfishness – what I want is more important
– Preference over principle
– Biblical illiteracy – denying, ignoring God’s Word
– Lack of prayer – denying, ignoring God’s power
– Disobedience – denying, ignoring God’s plan
2. Nathan caused David to Take A Look In The Mirror – verse 7
“You Are The Man!”
3. Nathan issued God’s Call To Repentance – verse 9a
“Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight?”
- God said, “I’ve done all of this for you. How could you do this to me?”
David’s Response
1. Fear – verses 10-12 (fear over Nathan’s pronouncement of God’s disappointment)
2. Genuine Repentance – verse 13
“So 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.'”
– Look how quickly restoration began!
The Ugly Truth
Here’s what Nathan pointed out, not only to David, but to us today….
3. The Church Is Always Damaged By Hypocrisy – verse 14a
“However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme…”
Our Response
- FEAR OF GOD – resulting in respect, holiness, obedience, being in awe of Him
- GENUINE REPENTANCE – setting aside what we want for what God wants
- GO AND SIN NO MORE – seeking daily to honor His Word