You Are The Man

Sixty-two chapters are dedicated to David in the scriptures—more than any other person; also, there are 59 references to David in the New Testament. Undoubtedly, David is one of the most important people in the Bible. David is there for his life, his courage, his faithfulness, and his humility, but he is also here for his failure and his sinfulness. Most of all, he is there for the confrontation with God’s Word, his acknowledgement, and finally his restoration. He is there so we can learn from what he did right and what he did wrong.

A huge pitfall for us as believers is familiarity with the word of God. Christians sometimes reach a point where God’s word no longer disturbs them. It never convicts or rebukes them. Paul told Timothy that the Word of God should correct, rebuke, and encourage us.

Praise God for every man and woman of God who faithfully brings God’s Word every week to their congregations. In the story of David, God had a prophet named Nathan whom he sent with a word for David. Nathan brought God’s word, and it was so powerful that it shattered David’s heart. David had convinced himself that what he had done was okay. He had committed adultery and murder and covered it all up.

David thought things were hidden, but they were not: “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). Imagine a person driving down the road in their car and their instrument warning light comes on, letting them know that the vehicle has a problem with the oil pressure. Oil is what lubricates the engine and keeps it going. Without proper oil pressure, the engine will burn itself up and destroy the engine block. Irritated that this is happening, they don’t pull over to stop the car and investigate the problem, but instead grab a roll of masking tape and put it over the light. Now they feel much better and believe they have solved the problem. They continue on, but all the while, they are now doing severe damage to the car and will ultimately destroy the engine. This is what a person does who ignores true guilt.

Nathan was sent by God in God’s time and in God’s way. Nathan was known by David and respected by David. Nathan prepared himself in terms of what he would say and how he would say it. Truly, Nathan was sent by God! Nathan was a brave and courageous man of God. To confront the king about his sin could have meant his own death sentence. This prophet, however, was more concerned about offending God than the king.

Nathan tells a story about two men in a particular town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many possessions and large herds of animals, but the poor man had only one small ewe lamb that he treated like a daughter. David was immediately drawn in by the story because it was presented as something that had really happened. At this stage, however, David was hearing about a poor man who was contented and happy with his home life.

When a traveler came to see the rich man, he took the little ewe lamb from his neighbor, killed it, and prepared it for his guest (2 Samuel 12:4). Upon hearing the story, David became angry and declared that the rich man deserved to die and pay the poor man fourfold.  “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” (2 Samuel 12:5-6). The story was David’s story, but he did not realize it. Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. (2 Samuel 12:7).

The prophet Nathan faced the king whom the Lord had chosen and pronounced judgment, “Nathan said to David, `You are the man!” With hard-hitting force, Nathan confronted David. The situation on which the king had pronounced his furious verdict was his own situation. The story was a mirror revealing David’s own wickedness. David was shown his sin and his wickedness and then Nathan said, “You are the man!” 

God was speaking to David’s conscience, “You are the man, David!” David repented, and God forgave him and put his sin away. However, terrible consequences followed David and his family for his sin.  We should remember that when God forgives us, it does not stop the consequences.