Let's hear it for those who care enough to confront. It's easy enough to say kind things to our friends and family, but true friends speak the truth in love - the easy things and the hard things.
The story of king David's sin is well-known to many - an adulterous affair, and the murder of the adulteress' husband. Psalm fifty-one records his confession and penitence, but these words would not exist were it not for a gutsy and faithful prophet named Nathan.
It is recorded in 2 Samuel twelve that Nathan broached the sin subject with David through a parable of a rich man and poor man, and a little lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4). It was a story of grievous injustice which provoked king David's outrage - "Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die.He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion." (2 Samuel 12:5-6).
But then comes the clincher: "Nathan then said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 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.'"
While we can appreciate Nathan's boldness and honesty as God's representative, we may not easily appreciate the risk he took. The very real possibility existed that David could have struck him down in his presence, and continued to hide the sordid details of his sin. But, through Nathan's boldness, David was able to respond and repent: "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.'" (2 Samuel 12:13)
Caring enough to confront. Are we like Nathan, or do we have Nathans in our life? We desperately need to be and have such people. When the danger of spiritual disaster looms, will we confront, or will a friend confront us? Are we content to watch a wayward brother or sister continue on the path to disaster, or do we care enough to intervene and confront?
Thank God for Nathans. Rare is the person who owns up to sin without confrontation, so precious is the person who cares enough to risk confrontation for the good of someone else. If you are veering in a sinful direction, may God place a Nathan in your life to confront. And, may He use as to be a Nathan to someone near to us if the need exists.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
The story of king David's sin is well-known to many - an adulterous affair, and the murder of the adulteress' husband. Psalm fifty-one records his confession and penitence, but these words would not exist were it not for a gutsy and faithful prophet named Nathan.
It is recorded in 2 Samuel twelve that Nathan broached the sin subject with David through a parable of a rich man and poor man, and a little lamb (2 Samuel 12:1-4). It was a story of grievous injustice which provoked king David's outrage - "Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, 'As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die.He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion." (2 Samuel 12:5-6).
But then comes the clincher: "Nathan then said to David, 'You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 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.'"
While we can appreciate Nathan's boldness and honesty as God's representative, we may not easily appreciate the risk he took. The very real possibility existed that David could have struck him down in his presence, and continued to hide the sordid details of his sin. But, through Nathan's boldness, David was able to respond and repent: "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.'" (2 Samuel 12:13)
Caring enough to confront. Are we like Nathan, or do we have Nathans in our life? We desperately need to be and have such people. When the danger of spiritual disaster looms, will we confront, or will a friend confront us? Are we content to watch a wayward brother or sister continue on the path to disaster, or do we care enough to intervene and confront?
Thank God for Nathans. Rare is the person who owns up to sin without confrontation, so precious is the person who cares enough to risk confrontation for the good of someone else. If you are veering in a sinful direction, may God place a Nathan in your life to confront. And, may He use as to be a Nathan to someone near to us if the need exists.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:17 AM
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