Challenge Accepted: 2 Samuel 12:1-13
Sometimes confrontation is exactly what is needed. Yet, confrontation can be difficult. Who among us enjoys the experience of confrontation? It comes with elevated blood pressure, a racing heart, words that shouldn’t be said. It evokes uncomfortable emotions typically stronger than necessary. Confrontation is difficult; it puts us in difficult spots. Still, confrontation is frequently a necessary part of the forgiveness process.
God was not pleased with David’s actions. We can infer God’s displeasure with humanity throughout much of the Bible, but the Bible does not often claim God’s displeasure against an individual. God was displeased with Adam and Eve. God was displeased with the world in general at the time of Noah, but God didn’t single out anyone. God was displeased with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, but He didn’t single out anyone. God was displeased with the Hebrew people in the Exodus, but He didn’t single out anyone. In this passage, we see God’s displeasure directed specifically at David.
Nathan confronts the king. There can be little doubt this moment was uncomfortable. He gets to stand in the gap between an angry God and a king who has already had men killed to cover his sin. Nathan knew humanity; I’m sure he prepared for battle.
Nathan’s parable serves the purpose of arousing David’s anger. This might seem like a poor choice. Why intentionally evoke David’s anger when bringing a difficult message to him? Once David’s anger is evoked, Nathan can try to focus it. It’s a dangerous game to play, though. Once anger is aroused, it is not always focused where you want.
Through the parable, Nathan gets David to understand how David behaved. David sees his sin. He understands how generous God has been to him and how poorly he appreciated God’s grace. He sees how he allowed sin to ignore God’s blessing and instead focus on something that wasn’t his to take. David’s anger flows out of him because he understands his guilt.
This is why the God specifically calls out displeasure with David, yet the Bible repeatedly calls David a man after God’s own heart. David isn’t a man after God’s own heart because he is perfect. David is a man after God’s own heart because his understanding of his sinfulness allows God to bring him back into righteousness. David doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t get defensive. He doesn’t harbor a grudge. He doesn’t go on with enmity. David sees his guilt and folds. He accepts his guilt and lets the sin go, choosing to dwell with God rather than cling to his sin.
Nathan confronts David brilliantly because he knows David is a man after God’s own heart. Nathan knows David is not like Saul. In his anger, David can be reasoned with. Nathan chooses the right way to confront his king because Nathan’s God called him to do so. Sometimes confrontation is exactly what is needed.
