Nathan’s Story

2 Samuel 12:1-13

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There were two men in a certain town. One of them was rich and the other poor. The rich man had many sheep and cattle, the poor man had one little ewe lamb that he bought. It was part of his family, he fed it, and it was like a child to him. A guest came to the rich man’s house and the rich man didn’t take one of his sheep or cattle to provide for the guests, he took the poor man’s little ewe lamb, killed it, and fed it to the guest.

That story is what Nathan the prophet used to confront King David in his sin. When David heard the story the Bible tells us that he burned with anger and said “that man deserves to die!” Nathan then looked at David. He told him “you are the man.”

David was confronted in his sin, he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then murdered Bathsheba’s husband. In response to this confrontation over his sin David said in 2 Samuel chapter 12, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

David was led to recognize that he had violated God’s holy law and done what he was not supposed to. When we look at our lives we can see just like David and how we have violated God’s law.

We sinned against the Lord, we’ve done even what we know is wrong. God should surely condemn us. We deserve to die. Nathan said to David “you will not die, the Lord has taken away your sin.”

God says the same to you. “You will not die.” He has taken away your sin. He took it away when he died on the cross in your place. Jesus came so that you can live even though it cost him his life. So don’t despair.

Yes, you deserve to die, but you will live because the Lord has taken away your sin. Amen.