Can you see yourself?

2 Samuel 12:7

“You are that man!…”

2 Samuel 11-12 Summary:

King David did not got out and fight in the war as he normally did. One night on his terrace he saw Bathsheba taking a bath. David sent for her, slept with her, and sent her home. Bathsheba soon discovered she was pregnant and sent word to the king. 

Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, was one of David’s mighty men, and he was away fighting as King David should have been. Eager to cover his sin, David called Uriah home from battle, fed him, and even got him drunk to coerce Uriah to go home and sleep with his wife. Uriah’s code of honor would not allow him to take pleasure with his wife knowing his brothers were fighting in battle. 

David sent Uriah back to war carrying a letter for the commander which contained Uriah’s death sentence. David commanded that Uriah be moved to fight on the front line and the other men were to retreat. After the death of Uriah, David took Bathsheba as one of his wives. 

Adultery and murder…I thought David loved God?

The child born to David and Bathsheba became very ill and died. David fasted and prayed for the life of the child but to no avail. Once the child died, David washed, ate, and went to the house of God to worship. All of David’s men were perplexed by his actions, but David explained that as long as there was hope for the child to live he continued to pray and fast. Since the child died, David realized the child could not come back to him, but he could serve the Lord and see the child some day in Heaven. (2 Samuel 12:22-23) This passage grants such hope of us seeing our loved ones again. 

After the death of Uriah, the prophet came to David and told him a story. There was a very rich man who decided to throw a party for visiting friends, but instead of feeding his friends from his own vast wealth, he took the only sheep from a poor man. This sheep had been like a child to this poor man and was his only possession. David was so angry. He wanted that rich man killed for his heartless actions and demanded to know who was this man.

Nathan replied, “You are that man!” 

Wow! David’s heart broke. He was King and could have any one he wanted, yet he took the wife of his friend, Uriah. David tried to cover his sin, but he could not see the severity of it until Nathan told him this simple story. 

It’s a curious thing how people do not “see” themselves. People get so caught up in being moved by emotions that they don’t “see” the way their actions impact others. Whether it’s words or actions, you cannot turn back time. You might be sorry and repentant, but oftentimes, damage has already been done. 

David repented, and a God still blessed his future, but repercussions of his actions could not be undone. Uriah died. The child died. David’s sin was uncovered, and his household suffered throughout his reign. 

Ask God to show you yourself today. Are there some changes you can make in your life? Look into the Bible. Let the Word of God be your mirror. Does your reflection look like the Lord?