The Book of second Samuel

Chapter 12

[1] And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
[2] The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
[3] But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
[4] And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

1) Parable (Vs 1-4)

David would not examine himself therefore God sent Nathan the prophet

David hid this thing for a least nine months

Nathan tells story about the man w/ a pet lamb and it was taken by a rich man

[5] And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
[6] And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

2) Passing Judgment (Vs 5,6)

David, upon hearing this story was quick to judge and pass sentence upon the guilty man

“The guilty shall die and restore him fourfold”

How quickly David overlooked self and passed judgment upon someone else

[7] And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
[8] And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
[9] Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

3) Proclamation (Vs 7-9)

“Thou art the man”

God says I anointed you, I delivered you, I gave you AND would have given more

It is as if David is not satisfied with what God has given him

When God blessed David, David sought out sin....... ingratitude towards God

David acts and rationalizes as if Gods commands are wrong in his life

God will not allow David to place blame on anyone but himself

[10] Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
[11] Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
[12] For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

4) Punishment (Vs 10-12)

From this day forward David will know violence and bloodshed in his own family

David demanded fourfold restitution

God will get this out of Bathsheba’s baby, Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah

God says because when you despised my commandments you despised me

Since David troubled another man’s home.... therefore trouble will come to his home

You violated another mans wife therefore your wives will be violated II Sam 16:21-22

You did this in secret but I will show this to all Israel

You will reap what you sow and with interest

[13] And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

5) Plea (Vs 13a)

“I have sinned against the Lord”

I... squarely on his own shoulders

sinned... not a mistake, and error, a mess-up, nor a problem BUT sin

against the Lord ..... Ps 51:1-4,16,17..................note David’s desire for cleansing

6) Pardon (Vs 13b)

God’s forgiveness was immediate............ not a time of probation

David was spared the penalty of adultery which was death

[14] Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
[15] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
[16] David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
[17] And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
[18] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
[19] But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

7) Price (Vs 14-19)

But there is a price to be paid.

There is a consequence to our sin..........for David the death of the child

The Lord struck the child with sickness. (Innocent suffer for the sins of the guilty)

* Uriahs death and the subsequent marriage did not make what David had done right

The chastises the guilty and the child was sick 7 days

During this illness David fasted and prayed seeking the mercy of God... BUT The child died

[20] Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
[21] Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
[22] And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
[23] But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

8) Practice (Vs 20-23)

When the child died, David got up, washed got himself ready and went to worship God

Most folks would be bitter but David got better

David knew the child went to heaven

David knew the only way to see it again is to go to the child for it shall not return

David must have had peace to worship , God must have forgiven David to allow worship

[24] And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
[25] And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

9) Principle (Vs 24,25)

David comforts his wife during this time of grieving and she is with child again

The couple repented, God forgave, God blessed with another baby & this one is named Solomon

He is also called Jedidiah meaning “Loved of the Lord”...... Solomon in the lineage of Jesus

[26] And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
[27] And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
[28] Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
[29] And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
[30] And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
[31] And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

10) Power (Vs 26-31)

God did not allow Joab ultimate victory until David repented.

Then David led the defeat of the enemy