A LEADER REPENTS (24 OF 52)
Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:13-23
This content is part of a series.
A Leader Repents (24 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part Three
Christopher B. Harbin
2 Samuel 12:13-23
The Bible is pretty clear that no one is perfect. We are pretty comfortable accepting that premise, at least in theory. We just don't know what to do with the concept. How do we deal with heroes who have moral flaws? How do we respond to leaders who let us down? What do we do with partners, friends, children, and parents who fail us in some way? Our tendency is to simply cut ourselves off from relationships we see as broken. After all, those who have failed us once are likely to fail us again. Is there a better way forward?
Previously, we looked at David's abject failure in regard to Bathsheba, Uriah, the nation of Israel, and Yahweh. David was set up to rise far above Saul as an exemplary king over Israel. Instead of that, he failed miserably. He acted no better than Saul, who abused his power, position, and resources to hunt down David instead of working for Israel's security and prosperity. David abused Bathsheba, tried to cover up his misdeeds, had Uriah killed as part of his cover-up, turned Joab into an accomplice is his waywardness, and then acted as though he had done nothing wrong.
Visibly, as far as we can tell, that is how things stood until the prophet Nathan came to see him. Nathan spun a yarn for David, presenting as true an account of injustice perpetrated on a poor man. He told David about a rich man with a numerous flock who did not want to kill one of his own sheep in hosting a visitor. Rather, this man took the only and beloved sheep of a poor man, feeding that one to his guest in a mere pretense of hospitality.
David became enraged at this injustice. He proscribed punishment for the rich man. Then Nathan called David out, saying him, ''You are the man!'' That is where we find David in today's text. Confronted with his own guilt, his anger hot against the injustice of someone unknown, David stepped back to accept his own guilt.
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Series: Discipleship Part Three
Christopher B. Harbin
2 Samuel 12:13-23
The Bible is pretty clear that no one is perfect. We are pretty comfortable accepting that premise, at least in theory. We just don't know what to do with the concept. How do we deal with heroes who have moral flaws? How do we respond to leaders who let us down? What do we do with partners, friends, children, and parents who fail us in some way? Our tendency is to simply cut ourselves off from relationships we see as broken. After all, those who have failed us once are likely to fail us again. Is there a better way forward?
Previously, we looked at David's abject failure in regard to Bathsheba, Uriah, the nation of Israel, and Yahweh. David was set up to rise far above Saul as an exemplary king over Israel. Instead of that, he failed miserably. He acted no better than Saul, who abused his power, position, and resources to hunt down David instead of working for Israel's security and prosperity. David abused Bathsheba, tried to cover up his misdeeds, had Uriah killed as part of his cover-up, turned Joab into an accomplice is his waywardness, and then acted as though he had done nothing wrong.
Visibly, as far as we can tell, that is how things stood until the prophet Nathan came to see him. Nathan spun a yarn for David, presenting as true an account of injustice perpetrated on a poor man. He told David about a rich man with a numerous flock who did not want to kill one of his own sheep in hosting a visitor. Rather, this man took the only and beloved sheep of a poor man, feeding that one to his guest in a mere pretense of hospitality.
David became enraged at this injustice. He proscribed punishment for the rich man. Then Nathan called David out, saying him, ''You are the man!'' That is where we find David in today's text. Confronted with his own guilt, his anger hot against the injustice of someone unknown, David stepped back to accept his own guilt.
...
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