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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Tuesday, 26 August 2025:
2 Samuel 12:1-4 — And 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. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
The Lord in His mercy did not abandon David in his sin but sent Nathan to confront him. This shows God’s covenant love, even when His children fall grievously. Nathan’s parable pierced David’s conscience by reframing his sin in terms of injustice that he could see clearly apart from self-justification. Often our hearts are blind to our own sins but quick to perceive others’. Jesus warned of this tendency in Matthew 7:3–5. The lamb, tenderly described as a beloved family member, mirrors Bathsheba in David’s story, and the rich man’s theft is an image of David’s abuse of power. The Lord graciously sent a messenger to bring David to repentance, showing that rebuke is an act of love (Proverbs 27:6; Galatians 6:1).
“And the LORD sent Nathan to David.” God uses His messengers to communicate judgement. Nathan did not remain silent in the face of sin and, in fact, risked his life to confront David, the most powerful man in the nation who had already demonstrated his willingness to go to extremes to cover up his sin. What would you have done? How do you confront sin where you are?
“You are the man!” Perhaps no more powerful, more damning words were ever spoken to David. David often did the things expected of a godly, humble leader but from the wrong heart. However, Nathan has now exposed David’s hidden hubris which has led David to tremendous, unthinkable sin. David’s hubris was always there, and if you reexamine what we have read about David to date, you can trace the thread of this character flaw, this “fatal flaw,” through many stories. Perhaps even Eliab had a sense of his younger brother David’s pride when he rebuked him (seemingly unfairly) many years before – “Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, ‘Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.’” (1 Samuel 17:28, David and Goliath) Despite his moments of great faith, we have seen glimpses of David’s pride, ambition, deceptiveness, sense of entitlement, and lack of self-control.
David had a character flaw that grew over time, while simultaneously David grew more powerful, with fewer and fewer people holding him accountable — a dangerous combination. Proverbs 18 says, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1) Perhaps, if David had remained in the company of people like Uriah and Nathan, he never would have sinned with Bathsheba. David had a weakness; so do you. Under what conditions are you most vulnerable to sin? Who is your Nathan? Who knows you well enough to see in you what you cannot or will not see in yourself, and who do you respect and trust enough to tell you the truth about yourself? Who have you placed in position to protect you against yourself? This person usually cannot be your spouse or a member of the opposite sex. This person should ideally be a senior mentor or trusted peer who shares your faith perspective, sees you perform your daily functions, and has the courage to speak candidly to you with the right mix of firmness and gentleness. Pray for a Nathan if you don’t have one, and make a conscious effort to place protective barriers around yourself where you know you are weak.
“But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb.” David took Uriah’s everything without blinking an eye. Bathsheba abandoned the one who loved her with his life. Shocking! Yet David and Bathsheba are in the genealogy of Jesus. In fact, Mathew 1:6 describes their roles in the genealogy this way – “And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.” Bathsheba is not listed as the wife of David but rather Uriah! How are we to reconcile all this?
As with all stories of the Bible, this story is a testimony to our total depravity and our total reliance on the grace of God. Take note that those who are often called “heroes” of the Bible fail greatly in their areas of strength. Abraham, known for his great faith, impregnated Hagar rather than waiting on God’s promise. Moses, the humblest man of his time, lost his temper and sought to share glory with God at the rock. We will soon read that Solomon, the wisest man on earth, foolishly and permanently divided the kingdom. Courageous Peter will deny Jesus three times when confronted by a group of strangers. God will humble us in our pride and tear down our idols so we will understand our total reliance on Him and Him alone. If our hope is in our abilities, we have no hope at all. We must build our house on the rock of Jesus. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)
2 Samuel 12:5-6 — Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
David’s anger was righteous in its recognition of injustice, but hypocritical in that he condemned the man while excusing himself. This is a picture of Romans 2:1 — “for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” Yet David’s sense of justice in demanding fourfold restitution reveals God’s law was still etched on his conscience (Exodus 22:1). The self-condemnation in David’s words underscores the truth that our own standards often testify against us apart from grace.
In the Name of The Lord, David imposed judgment on others he was not willing to impose upon himself. David’s crimes deserved the death penalty, but he did not hold himself accountable to the same standard. The Lord’s Prayer (which is really the disciple’s prayer), says, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Do we not impart a curse upon ourselves when we don’t show unmerited forgiveness and grace to others?
2 Samuel 12:7-9 — Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why 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.’”
The confrontation is direct: “You are the man!” The Lord reminds David of all His gracious gifts, showing that sin is not only a crime against people but ingratitude toward God’s generosity. To despise God’s word is to treat lightly His commands, His covenant, His will, and His honor. James 1:17 reminds us that every good gift comes from above, yet sin turns us from gratitude to self-indulgence. David’s abuse of power is laid bare, not only adultery, but murder, and not only murder, but orchestrating it by the enemy’s sword. The severity of sin is magnified against the backdrop of God’s blessings.
2 Samuel 12:10-12 — “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”
Though David’s sin is forgiven, the consequences remain. Sin brings ripple effects that may last generations. God declares the sword will not depart from David’s house — a prophecy fulfilled in the rebellion of Absalom and ongoing turmoil. God’s judgment mirrors David’s sin: David took another man’s wife in secret; Absalom would take David’s wives in public (2 Samuel 16:22). This principle of divine justice — “whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7) — reveals that while forgiveness restores relationship with God, discipline still falls in love to bring holiness.
No matter what David told himself about his sin. The truth was that he committed adultery because, in his heart, he really despised God. In his shocking sin, David had rejected the Almighty as Lord. The ripple effect of David’s sin lasted for generations.
“What is required for God to forgive sin? Repentance. But even repentance does not ensure the removal of the consequences of sin. The consequences often remain as a reminder of the terrible, destructive nature of sin. David was forgiven for his grievous sins of lust, adultery, robbery, and murder. God forgave him absolutely and removed his sin from him completely (Ps. 103:12). God did not, however, remove the pain that David would endure as a result of his transgressions. The child born of David’s adultery died (2 Sam. 12:14). David’s son Amnon raped David’s daughter Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). David’s son Absalom murdered Amnon (2 Sam. 13:28-29). Absalom brought the kingdom into rebellion (2 Sam. 15). For the rest of David’s reign, violence filled his home and his kingdom. Although David knew he was forgiven, he bore the painful consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. It is presumptuous to assume that God removes every consequence the moment you repent of your sin. Do not think that the instant you show remorse God will restore everything as it was. He may not. Some sins, such as adultery, come from a flawed character. God forgives sin immediately upon repentance, but it takes longer to build character. It is character, not forgiveness, that determines what God brings next to your life. Because we know the devastating consequences of our disobedience, let us diligently avoid every sin and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1b). (Henry T. Blackaby)
2 Samuel 12:11 — Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.”
Throughout the Bible, God punishes by giving sinners a taste of their own medicine. What David did to Uriah secretly would now be done to David publicly. In fact, David’s sin has been exposed and recorded for all eternity, which is why we are now reading about it.
2 Samuel 12:13-14 — David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”
David’s confession is short but true: “I have sinned against the Lord.” Unlike Saul, who excused and justified himself (1 Samuel 15:24–25), David acknowledges his guilt fully. Psalm 51 is his fuller confession, born of this moment. God responds with mercy — “you shall not die” — showing grace triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Yet the consequence is severe: the child will die, showing that sin wounds not only the sinner but the innocent around him. This foreshadows Christ, the innocent Son who died not for His own sin but for the sins of others (Isaiah 53:5-6).
2 Samuel 12:13 — The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
This is an example of “Amazing Grace” — The Lord did not condemn David. However, grace did not free David from life-long punishment. Jesus was not done with David and would use discipline to sanctify Him. No one wants to be disciplined, but God’s goal for us is not to comfort us but to draw us closer to Him. “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11, 12)
2 Samuel 12:15-17 — Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
David’s grief over the child is real, and he pleads with fasting and prayer. His humility is evident as he lies on the ground, interceding. Though the judgment is pronounced, David shows that prayer is not futile, for he knows God’s mercy is great. Even when consequences are certain, prayer is an expression of trust in God’s goodness, aligning us with His will.
2 Samuel 12:18-23 — On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him…. But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead…. Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
David’s response to the child’s death demonstrates remarkable faith. He accepts the Lord’s decision, worships, and moves forward. His statement, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me,” points to hope beyond death, anticipating resurrection and eternal reunion. David models for us how to grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He teaches that prayer and fasting are expressions of dependence, but once God’s will is revealed, we must accept it with worship and continue in faith.
“Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” There is no sense in lamenting the past. What is done is done. Be faithful with today, and trust God with the future. David knew he would see his son in the afterlife.
2 Samuel 12:24-25 — Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
David’s sin did not detract from God’s love for Solomon. Solomon was the child of adulterous parents, but that did not affect his relationship with God. It is not from where you came that matters; what matters is who you are with. With Jesus, you are a new creation. When He is with you, who can be against you? In Him, there is no condemnation.
God brings new life and redemption out of brokenness. Solomon, whose name means “peace,” would be chosen by God to succeed David and build the temple. Though David and Bathsheba’s relationship began in sin, God redeems it for His purposes. The name “Jedidiah,” meaning “beloved of the Lord,” affirms God’s grace even after judgment. This foreshadows Christ, the greater Son of David, through whom God’s steadfast love would fully triumph over sin.
2 Samuel 12:26-31 — Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city…. So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it…. And David took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount…. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
The chapter closes with a contrast. Even in judgment and grief, the kingdom moves forward. David regains his role as king and leader, victorious in battle. Yet the crown on his head must have felt heavy with the memory of his sin. His victories highlight God’s continued favor, not David’s worthiness. This points us to Christ, the true King, who bore not only a golden crown but also a crown of thorns, conquering sin and death through His righteousness.
2 Samuel 12:28 — Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.
While David was wrapped up in personal issues, Joab was doing the work of the king. Slowly David was losing respect and credibility. A leadership void will be filled by someone, perhaps the wrong one. Leaders must lead. We are called to be leaders in love, to be the primary influencers in our environments for God’s glory. If we don’t lead people to Christ, someone else might lead them away from Christ.
2 Samuel 12:28 – Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name.
David has allowed himself to become too dependent on Joab for his successes; this hindered David’s willingness to hold Joab accountable later, which would eventually lead to the death of David’s son. When you rely on someone else’s strength, you promote your own weakness.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 August 2025: True repentance is not measured by words alone but by a broken and contrite heart that turns back to God in full surrender. Like David, confess your sins without excuse, trust in God’s mercy in Christ, and then rise to worship and continue in obedience, even when the consequences remain. Today, practice this by confessing one area of sin or compromise honestly before the Lord, receiving His forgiveness in Christ, and then walking forward in worship and obedience without wallowing in guilt.
Pray: “Father, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Thank You for the mercy You showed David and for the greater mercy You show me in Christ, who bore my sins on the cross. Teach me to repent fully, to accept Your discipline with humility, and to move forward in worship and obedience. Strengthen me to live in the freedom of forgiveness and to grow in holiness for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 