What Do You Desire? What Does God Desire?

Follow Along with the Message

David – A Man in the Grip of Grace                                                                                                             

“Then the LORD sent Nathan to David” (v.1a). God is the initiator – He is always the initiator. Think about that. God is never a passive onlooker.

Nathan brings a clear, emotional message. The rich man abuses and steals from the poor man (1b-4). Note the contrasts.

Two men in one city (they knew of each other) – one rich and the other poor.

“But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb. Which he bought and cherished.  It grew up together with him and his children.It would eat bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom.  And was like a daughter to him.”

A traveler came to visit the rich man. He was unwilling to take from his own many herds and flocks to prepare a meal.So he took (remember the word “took” from 2 Samuel 11.4) the poor man’s sheep and prepared a meal for his friend.

David is furious. Who wouldn’t be. What a complete miscarriage of justice!!!!!!

But Nathan’s answer caught David completely off guard. “You Are the Man” (2 Samuel 12.7)!

“Alexander Whyte was right; Nathan’s sword was within an inch of David’s conscience before David knew that Nathan had a sword.”

Thus says the LORD God of Israel (vv.7,8)

• It is I who anointed you king
• It is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul
• It is I who delivered your master’s house and your master’s wives
• I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and
• If that had been too little, I would have given you more

Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? Your sin has destroyed others as well (v.9).

David’s sin is against God! My sin is against God! See Psalm 51 and Psalm 32!

“Against You, and You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,                                                                                                   
And in sin my mother conceived me (Psalm 51.4,5).

Sin’s penalty (10-12) – no bargaining with God

• The sword will not depart from your house
• I will raise up evil against you from your own household (you will reap what you sow) – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6.7).
• Your own household will make a mockery of your wives in public and before your own eyes – it will be in open daylight (contrasted with your sin in secret)
• Sin gives an occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme

David’s Response (13-15a)

• “I have sinned against the LORD” (v.13)
• “The LORD has taken away your sin; you shall not die”
• The child will die
• Nathan went to his house - think about it

The rest of the story (15b-25)

• The LORD struck the child
• David fasts and pleads for the life of his child
• On the 7^th day the child died
• David finishes his fast and fixes his eyes of the future reunion with his son
• God gives David and Bathsheba another son, Solomon. “The LORD loved him.” He is also named ‘Jedidiah’ (beloved of the LORD) for the LORD’s sake.”

A few thoughts for Reflection – Think About Your Life

1. The serious nature of sin – sin is against God - God judges sin – He must
2. Sin has consequences – the child died. Sin always leads to death.
3. David confesses his sin – he doesn’t try to justify it or blame his disobedience on others
4. David knows the grace of God and throws himself on God (2 Samuel 24.14)
5. While this chapter is not directly about Jesus, I cannot help but think about Him

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9.14)? Also 2 Corinthians 5.21

What a great salvation we have through our Lord Jesus Christ! This passage is about Jesus! This passage is about grace.