It seems like the story of the prodigal son shines light on the prodigal while the older brother and his issues slip into the shadows barely being noticed by most who read the scripture. In a similar way, the light shines on King David and the outcome of his contempt for God in 2 Samuel after committing immorality with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Yet an important person delivered God’s message of rebuke to King David, the prophet Nathan.
I can imagine Nathan’s thoughts when God instructed him to confront David with his sin. Because of David’s authority and position, Nathan knew full well that he could lose his life as a result of the confrontation. After all, David had personally killed, or had ordered to be killed, thousands of men. What was one more? Nathan was not confronting a deplorable ungodly man, he was confronting a godly man, ordained by God himself with tremendous power and authority, yet a man who had committed a grievous sin.
And what was Nathan’s response? It was as simple as, “Yes Lord. I will go.” Outside of his comfort zone? I would say! Wrought with uncertainty and fear? Possibly. You see, for each of us the first step is to say, “Yes Lord.” The first step requires an “all-in” attitude toward the King of Kings: Jesus. Nathan knew that with God there was no half way, no turning back, no timidity, and no conditions. God called him to do the impossible and the uncomfortable, yet because of his obedience and love for God, he said yes.
And how did he do what God required of him? It required confidence and faith in the one who sent him, love of the Truth, and the surrender that reveals God’s power in every situation. You see, Nathan knew that even if King David took his life, God himself could resurrect him from the dead. He knew that even in death, the joy of eternity with God was beyond his ability to grasp, that to obey God, and to uphold his Word was worth everything. In fact, he knew that loving God was written into his very DNA, a reality that he could not stray from.
Nathan was a remarkable man, largely because he was willing to say yes. “Yes, I will follow you God no matter the cost.” He understood that even suffering for God was a joy and privilege. And so it was in the power of God that he approached David speaking the very words God had told him to speak. And for David, Nathan was the voice of God. David had spent so much time with God that he recognized his voice and respond. God had prepared David’s heart for Nathan’s words and he fell in repentance before God and the prophet confessing his sin and asking forgiveness. That is the heart of a godly man or woman. And that was the heart of David. No excuses. No justifying, simply humble, genuine repentance. You can read David’s words to God in Psalm 51 as he prayed to his Creator.
We can all be Nathans by simply obeying God in intimate fellowship and relationship. We are bearers of the Truth and should be expectantly seeking to do his will. And if God should bring a Nathan into your life, what will you do? You see that is your story. You can ignore, or justify, or reject or kill, or your beautiful prayer of repentance could read like Psalm 51 and be recorded in the annuals of heaven for all eternity. A sweet fragrance to God. You can reflect the heart of David. You can say with him, “God, against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”
May you be washed in the blood of the Lamb. May your robes be whiter than snow. May you be kept from presumptuous sin. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!
Shannon
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