You Are the Man!
II Samuel 12
January 21, 2001

            With a nation that is swamped in immoral scenes, occasionally there are glimpses of moral concern.  Hypocritically, the media scorns immoral preachers and occasionally politicians while re-tooling for more sewage - yet they comment on immorality.  Some politicians rightly address the problems while their colleagues fend off media attention.  Immorality has become so commonplace that we have seemingly lost our sensitivity to it.  So David's story serves as a point of the reality of our sinfulness.  What words describe this story?  Sin?  Judgment?  Exposure?  Justice?  All of these, but also one better:  grace.  It is a story of God's action in grace.  Ralph Davis (122) calls grace, "God's something-for-nothing-when-we-don't-deserve-anything."

I. What had changed with David?

1.      David had not acknowledged the seriousness of sin

Here was a man whose conscience was sensitive to snipping off the corner of Saul's robe and getting water at the risk of his men's lives at Bethlehem.

2.      David was dulled to his own spiritual condition

His sin had seared his conscience.  Rough calluses developed over his heart.  He was deceiving himself. 

3.      David seemingly thought that lack of discovery meant that no harm would be done

4.      David took for granted the tender fellowship and joy he had known before the Lord

5.      David ignored the reality that we do not sin in isolation; others are affected

6.      David played loosely with the honor and glory of God (v. 14)

 

II. A simple story - Grace Pursues Us 

1.      David had the task of judging hard cases

Nathan's approach with a brief, poignant story was either a parable or an actual issue that he had to judge.  Sometimes a story can harass our thoughts and emotions and imaginations.

2.      He "attempts to rid himself of his guilty conscience by passing judgment on someone else, while subconsciously passing judgment on himself" (Baldwin 236).

For this David thought the man to be deserving death - the insensitivity was uncalled for.  He judges the man's responsibility - "he did this thing."  He judges his reprehensible state of mind - "he had no pity."  Humans have a keen sense of judgment - as long as it is on someone else.

 

III. The forceful declaration - Grace Exposes Us

1.      You are the man

There was no getting around the guilt.  David has admitted his crime through the story.  His defenses and excuses were laid waste by his own response to the parable.  David had described himself and didn't even realize (like Peter with the crowing rooster). 

2.      He was a man under God's hand v. 7-8

      He was the rich man of the story.  Recount God's work and provisions to him.  David lacked nothing.

3.      His ingratitude was exposed v. 8c

Ingratitude inevitably leads to presumption.  Then follows sin.  Neglect of thinking on the greatness of God's generosity left David craving the forbidden.

4.      His transgressions exposed v. 9

He had to face the reality of his sin.

5.      God's disciplinary hand v. 10-12

"Grace is not niceness; otherwise ...grace would no longer be grace..."Twas grace that taught my heart to fear"...Grace is not merely favor; it is also the fury that precedes the favor" (Davis 126-127).

 

IV. Confession - Grace Consoles Us v. 13-15

 

1.      David expects to die

He remembers Saul; he knows what he deserves.  The Lord meets him with mercy.  Psalm 32 - possibly his immediate response.  Though forgiven, God's judgments were not annulled. 

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