2 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 12

Shawn Bumpers / General

2 Samuel

 

Introduction:

The events of last weeks study in chapter 11 are very important to the events of this chapter.

In chapter 11, David remained in Jerusalem at his palace while Joab and the army of Israel went to battle the Ammonites.

Her husband, Uriah, was with the army, fighting against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 11:11 NKJV

And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

No matter how much we love or admire someone, they always have faults.

David, even though he was a, “man after God’s own heart,” and wrote much of the Psalms, defeater of Goliath and patient endurer of Saul … also had failings. 

God deals with sin by the means of forgiveness. 

Through David we learn wonderful things about the grace of God.

There are 3 major Hebrew word groups that communicate the concept of sin in the Old Testament.

Each of them is illustrated in these chapters. 

v1

Immediately after Bathsheba gave birth to their child, the LORD sent His prophet, Nathan to David.

He sent Nathan to David with a parable.

v2-6

By telling a story about the crime of another, Nathan prepared David for dealing with his own sins.

It’s possible that David thought Nathan was presenting him with an actual case … maybe from the local court. 

2 Samuel 12:3 NKJV

But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.

2 Samuel 11:11 NKJV

And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

Now notice that verse 3 speaks of the poor man’s ewe growing up, “Together with him and with his children.”

This seems to imply that Uriah had children of his own.

It is interesting that in the parable the rich man did not kill the poor man to take away the ewe lamb as David had killed Uriah to take Bathsheba.

Besides his continued refusal to confess and repent, the killing of Uriah was the pinnacle of David’s sins.

So, David passed judgment on the rich man without realizing he was passing judgment on himself.

And he is quite harsh.

Exodus 22:1 NKJV

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.

v7-9

David’s anger at the rich man of the parable opened the door for heavy conviction of himself.

And Nathan in verse 7 quickly revealed, “David – you are the man!”

v10-12

Having listed the accusations against David, Nathan now pronounces judgment for his sins.

David’s adultery with Bathsheba was a sin of desire.

Psalm 18:25–27 NKJV

With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

So, God repaid David “in kind.”

v13-14

David knew that the verdict was true.

He knew that the sentence was just.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

For David, God’s forgiveness was immediate.

When Nathan said, “You shall not die” it meant that David was spared the penalty of the law.

Psalm 103:3–4 NKJV

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Psalm 103:12 NKJV

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 32:7 NKJV

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

v15-23

Chastening is not punishment handed out by an angry judge who wants to uphold the law.

Rather, it’s difficulty permitted by a loving Father who wants His children to submit to His will and develop godly character. 

Hebrews 12:5 NKJV

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

And yet as sincere as David was in his pleading and fasting, the child still died.

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Genesis 18:25 NKJV

Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

1 Samuel 3:18 NKJV

Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”

And one more thing … notice what David says about his son.

“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

v24-25

We may experience chastening from the Lord and at times that chastening may be very harsh.

But no matter how difficult the chastening there is always comfort available from the Lord (see Isa. 40:1–2, 9–11, 28–31). 

Verses 24-25 contain at least 9 months of time.

It was God who caused the conception to occur.

v26-31

But there was still kingdom work for David to do, including helping Joab finish the siege of Rabbah.

Apparently, the siege of Rabbah lasted for a long time.