2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 (NRSV)
Read 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 26When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. Verse 27When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,
Chapter 12and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. Verse 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; Verse 3but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Verse 4Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him." Verse 5Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; Verse 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." Verse 7Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; Verse 8I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Verse 9Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Verse 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Verse 13David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan said to David, "Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. Verse 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die."
Verse 15Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.
Devotion
When King David first spotted Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop, he was alone. All of his trusted advisors and confidants were gone fighting his war. David was just bored enough to get into trouble and just isolated enough to make a bad decision. With each action and justification, the lines blur. David is certain he can fix this mess all by himself, but his efforts only confuse his perspective and blind his loyalties.
It takes an outer voice and a fresh telling for David to regain his sight. When Nathan tells the king a story about men and sheep, David’s ears transport him back to his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy. He is able to hear and see with neutrality and openness. Here, a conviction can pierce his self-righteous isolation and speak truth to the king—who is that man in the story.
Prayer
God of truth, give us wisdom and humility to surround ourselves with good counsel and brave witness so that we remain accountable to each other and to you. Amen.