The dynamics of discipleship (part 42)

Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one 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 and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” – II SAMUEL 12:1-4

When David heard this story his anger was aroused and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

The words that Nathan spoke went deep into David’s heart, bringing about conviction of his sin for the first time.

Godly sorrow is the conviction of ones sin that leads to repentance, without which according to scripture no one will see the Lord.

David’s justification of his sin hardened his heart and blinded him to the truth that was able to set him free. Nathan was sent by God, a type of the Holy Spirit to expose David’s sin and bring about conviction so that he could repent.

David acknowledged his sins and asked for forgiveness and the Lord forgave him but the consequences of his actions followed him to the grave and according to God, David’s sin gave great occasion to his enemies. The wages of sin is death!

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, (deliverance) not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” – II CORINTHIANS 7:10