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Why was Nathan's Approach of David So Effective?

Writer: Dwight SchettlerDwight Schettler
4 hours ago2 min read

How can the idolatrous sinner be reconciled to God?

Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 3 - Receive God's Forgiveness, Question 8, p. 45

In 2 Samuel 12:1-6, the prophet Nathan confronts King David about his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. Nathan's effectiveness in bringing David to a realization of his wrongdoing lies in his masterful use of a parable, which subtly leads David to self-discover his sin.


Nathan begins by telling David a story about two men in a city: one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. This lamb grew up with him and his children, becoming like a cherished family member. It ate of his morsel, drank from his cup, and lay in his arms, symbolizing the deep affection the poor man had for the lamb.


Nathan continues with the parable, describing how a traveler came to the rich man, but instead of taking one of his many sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the guest, the rich man took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the traveler. This injustice stirs David's sense of righteousness and justice, and he responds with great anger. David declares that the rich man deserves to die and must restore the lamb fourfold because he had no pity.


At this climactic moment, Nathan reveals the truth with a piercing declaration: "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). Nathan goes on to enumerate all that God had given David and how David had despised the word of the Lord by committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating Uriah's death.


Nathan's effectiveness in convicting David is rooted in his storytelling approach. By presenting the situation as a parable, Nathan allows David to objectively judge the severity of the wrongdoing without initially realizing he is the subject of the story. This method bypasses any immediate defensive reactions David might have had if confronted directly. David's own judgment of the parable's characters becomes his self-condemnation. Nathan's strategy is powerful because it brings David to a point of self-realization, leading him to acknowledge his sin sincerely.


Reflecting on this passage, we see the wisdom in Nathan's approach. His ability to engage David's sense of justice and his skill in storytelling exemplify how gentle yet firm guidance can lead someone to self-discover their faults. Nathan's method serves as a timeless example of effective confrontation, one that seeks to heal and restore rather than simply accuse.


We'll see in tomorrow's post that Nathan doesn't let David stew in his anguish, but immediately proclaims God's forgiveness.

 

 

This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:

 
 
 

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