We were watching a movie not too long ago and unbeknown
to us, it was one of those movies that had a hidden secret that isn’t revealed
until the very end. As the surprising dramatic finale revealed itself, it left
us sitting there wondering, how did we miss this important piece the whole
time? Really, how could we have watched this entire movie and not seen this
coming?
One of the earliest parables found in the Bible has a
similar conclusion that provoked a similar reaction.
In 2 Samuel 12:1-7, Nathan (God’s prophet) appears before
King David and shares a story with him. It is an infuriating account of a wealthy
man, who had unexpected dinner guests arrive at his home. But instead of
choosing one of the many sheep from his numerous herds to feed his visitors,
this rich man selfishly slips over to a neighbor’s home; and snatches away his
one and only little lamb to have it slaughtered and prepared for the banquet.
Upon hearing this story, King David became furious. His
anger was triggered, and in fiery indignation he rises from the throne and
pronounces that the man who has done such a thing, will restore four-fold what
he has taken, and then be put to death. The king is livid, to say the least.
David finds it outrageous that such an atrocious act would be done in his
kingdom.
It is just at this instant, that the Biblical plot
thickens…for at that exact moment; Nathan takes his prophetic finger and points
it at the chest of the enraged king and with holy boldness declares to him, you
are the man that has done this thing.
An uncomfortable silence falls over the throne room, as
the royal monarch processes Nathan’s indictment.
As many of my readers are aware, the king had recently
committed adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah.
While out walking on the palace rooftop one night, David had observed this attractive young lady bathing, and rather than turning away; David allowed lust to give birth to sin in his heart and he sent for her and had sexual relations with Bathsheba.
The erring king then recalled her husband from battle and
commanded him to go home and “spend time with his wife” to try and cover his
crime. However Uriah, the faithful soldier, refused to engage in the privileges
of marriage while his brethren were sleeping in tents on that battlefield. And
in spite of several attempts, the king could not persuade him to spend intimate
time with his wife, so in another moment of selfish weakness; David orders
Uriah back to war, and commands his generals to position him in the bloodiest
battle and then withdraw from him. Uriah is quickly killed.
 | ||
|
While these awful events were unknown to the majority of
the people in Israel, they were not unknown to God.
The shepherd king who is identified as a “man after God’s
own heart” has fallen. Though he had several wives and sundry concubines, yet he
added further to these sins, by stealing away the only wife of a godly man.
Like a solid right hook out-of-nowhere, Nathan’s parable
hit the king right between the eyes. David, who grew up tending his father’s
flock was rocked to the core by this simple story.
With one fell swoop, the king went from righteous
indignation to guilty brokenness.
It was this parable that God used to convict the heart of
the stumbling king. It was this relatable illustration that Nathan shared that
led David to repent of his sins, and to ask God for forgiveness.
Readers, this is the purpose of parables in the Bible.
Not to reveal some deep theological doctrines and not to build prophetic
positions on. But to relate clear and simple truths that provoke thought and
action. Jesus often employed parables for just these reasons. To provoke
thought and change.
King David must have felt like we felt, when we reached
the startling climax of that movie…shocked and surprised. Like us, he never saw
it coming.
But doubtlessly, he was thankful that a man of God had
the courage to confront him in his sin and to encourage him to find forgiveness
from the God of all grace.
Pastor Lewis Kiger
Memorial Heights Baptist Church
svdbygrace2@roadrunner.com
No comments:
Post a Comment