THOU ART THE MAN

2 Samuel 12:5-7

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:

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

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;

When we think of the bravest and mightiest of all those who served with King David we probably think of his 37 mighty men.

But perhaps the bravest of all those around David was the prophet Nathan.

We find Nathan throughout almost all of David’s reign, but there is never a big deal made of him.

That got me to thinking; really the important people of the Christian faith are not

·   The Pastors

·   The Missionaries or

·   The Evangelists

We sometimes make a big deal about those in full time Christian ministry.

But they are not the true heroes of the Christian faith.

The true heroes are the everyday, working man Christians. The ones who

·   Believe the Word of God,

·   Preach the Word of God and

·   Live the Word of God

At home, on the job and around their family and friends, even when it is not their job to do so.

Don’t get me wrong; we need preachers just like an army needs generals.

Battles are won and lost by real people who put generals’ plans into action.

Christians are

·   guided,

·   motivated and

·   instructed

by the preachers.

But Christianity is acted out by everyday people.

Nathan knew the 37 mighty men. He was with them and around them, but he wasn’t counted as one of them.[1]

On the other hand, Nathan, as much as anyone we know, influenced King David on matters of a spiritual nature.

For that reason, Nathan has something to teach us about being spiritual.

Besides a few incidental mentions, I find Nathan involved in three significant events involving King David:

I. He Advised Him in the Matter of the Temple

2 Samuel 7:1-17 (KJV)

And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

I see in Nathan’s character elements of both the spiritual and the human.

It’s one the reasons he makes such a great example for us.

He was a spiritual man, but he was a man.

David had finally risen to some prominence in his kingdom.

He was just a boy when Samuel anointed him to be the next king in Israel but the anointing had not been a promotion.

It made him a target.

That is a great picture of what happens when God saves us.

Salvation is a wonderful thing and it contains promises that are unspeakably grand.

But those promises are future.

Salvation is, for us today marking us for persecution and oppression by the enemies of God.

I get the impression, because Nathan knew David’s mighty men, that he had been with David through all of the valleys David experienced.

But the valleys were over.

David had risen

·   First to be leader of a small band

·   Then to be king over Judah

·   Finally to be king of all Israel

He had led his armies into battle against the most aggressive of their enemies.

·   He had won them liberty

·   He had secured for them land and

·   He had given them rest

Suddenly it came to David’s mind to do something great in appreciation to God.

He called for Nathan the prophet.[2]

And he proposed building a Temple of God.

Surely God’s dwelling deserved to be moved from the Tabernacle Moses had constructed 400 years previous!

Nathan responded exactly like any self respecting Baptist would if a member of his church offered to build the church a new sanctuary.

“Of course God is in that! You go man!”

Some things you don’t need to pray about:

·   You don’t need to pray about reading your Bible

·   You don’t need to pray about attending church services

·   You don’t need to pray about tithing

Nathan’s first impression was, “I can’t imagine why you would need to pray about building God a Temple!”

I can imagine how Nathan must have been feeling as he raced out of the King’s palace.

·   “I can’t wait to tell my wife and kids what God is going to do

·   I can’t wait to tell my congregation

·   I can’t wait to tell the preachers in the ‘JIBPF’ (Jerusalem Independent Baptist Prophets Fellowship)”

But that night, in the stillness of the evening, God spoke to Nathan, and reminded him that there are some things that ought to be prayed about first.

It was not God’s will for David to build a Temple.

·   It was God’s will for a Temple to be built and

·   It was God’s will for David to desire a Temple be built and

·   It was even God’s will for David to help in the building of the Temple

But it wasn’t his job to do it.

One application that may explain this is our world would be this:

·   It is God’s will for men to be in the ministry and

·   It is God’s will for every Christian to be willing to do the ministry and

·   It is even God’s will for every Christian to support those who are in the ministry

But it is not God’s will for every Christian to be in the ministry.

Can you imagine how much humility it would take for Nathan to return to tell David he, Nathan, had gotten a bit ahead of the Lord?

Notice how he handles this:

A. He returned with a message from God

Not just his “educated opinions” about God

2 Samuel 7:4-5 (KJV)

And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

There is a time and a place for a preacher – for any godly Christian – to give what he or she believes to be a thought out and responsible answer.

Paul told the Christian at Corinth in one response that he did not have a specific word from God on a particular subject that that this was his judgment. Then he said, “I think also that I have the mind of God.”

It’s not wrong to do that sometimes.

But it is always right to give people what the Bible says.

B. He Assured David of God’s Love for Israel

2 Samuel 7:8-11 (KJV)

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

God was not upset with David or with Israel.

God had eternal plans for Israel.

Notice what Nathan did in these verses:

·   He rehearsed what God had done for Israel and

·   He reminded of what God would do for Israel

The most important things you can ever speak to a person about is:

·   What God has done for them and

·   What God promises to do for them

C. He showed David who would build the Temple of God

2 Samuel 7:12-14 (KJV)

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

I don’t know that we can ever over express the importance that your Christian faith is not just about you. It is also about your children.

·   Teach your children to be godly and

·   Teach your children to teach their children to be godly

Don’t be satisfied getting up every day and doing what you do.

Actively and purposefully live for God and teach your kids to do that same.

Don’t just make them behave a certain way.

·   Live like Christians

·   Teach your children to live like Christians and

·   Teach them why a particular thing is living like Christians

In the second significant event I find Nathan

II. He Rebuked Him in the Matter of Bathsheba and Uriah

2 Samuel 12:1-13 (KJV)

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.

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

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.

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.

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:

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

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;

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.

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.

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.

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.

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

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.

Who can help but be impressed with the boldness of Nathan right here?

·   We know that David is powerful enough to have a man killed without anyone in the nation questioning it[3]

·   We know that Nathan respected David’s authority[4]

·   We know that David is a man of blood and has ordered men killed

To confront David with his sin of immorality with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband to cover up his sin – this is a stressful day at the office!

Nathan did not just rush in there and start yelling at the king.

That would not have worked.

A. He gave David a parable

The intent was to get David’s mind on justice.

When David responded as Nathan was sure he would

B. He pointed his finger and said “Thou art the man.”

C. He got specific and gave the details of the sin

Sooner or later every person’s sin has to be confronted for what it is.

·   It is one thing to say, “We are all sinners”

·   It’s a whole different story to say, “This is the sin”

In the final significant event between Nathan and David

III. He Guided Him in the Matter of Solomon’s Coronation

1 Kings 1:5-27 (KJV)

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?

Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.

And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.

And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?

For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.

But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Nathan knew whom God had called to be the king after David and he knew it was not Adonijah.

There is a specific reason Nathan got Bathsheba[5] to partner with him in this plan.

He knew Solomon was to be the next king.

Notice that Nathan did not usurp authority over the King.

He was respectful and humble.

But he was also forthright and very open about what was happening behind David’s back.

He did not tell David what to do but he did help David do what David knew to be the will of the Lord.

None of us have the ability to make a person do right.

·   We cannot make a person get saved

·   We cannot make a person worship the Lord

·   We cannot make a person believe the Bible

·   We cannot make a person see doctrine the way that we do

But

·   We can make people aware of truth and

·   We can help them to obey the truth once they accept it as truth.

Conclusion

Perhaps the mightiest of all David’s men was not even counted among the 37.

·   He wasn’t a soldier

·   He wasn’t a counselor to the king

But he was a godly consistent voice for truth and righteousness

And that’s something any of us can be.

---

[1] 1 Kings 1:8 (KJV)

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

[2] Isn’t it interesting that he did not call for the High Priest?

[3] At least they did not question out loud.

[4] We will find him bowing before the king in the final event for this message

[5] It does not serve the purpose of this message to name all of David’s wives. But he didn’t call Haggith, Adonijah’s mother or even Abigail, a woman of wonderful character whom David obviously loved. He called Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon.