This week’s Old Testament lesson (2 Sam. 11:26-12:13a) continues the consideration of David’s sin, which you will remember, involved a lustful attraction to Bathsheba that led David to arrange for her husband’s battlefield death. But what exactly was the sin?
Were it not for this week’s lesson, which considers the prophet Nathan’s rebuke of David, we might well get it wrong. As an example, let me point to the online Bible I use. It includes headings that divide the text into stories. It is helpful in finding what you’re looking for, but not so helpful for understanding the meaning of the text.
The heading inserted before the story of David and Bathsheba is certainly understandable. It reads, “David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba” (see. e.g., BibleGateway - Keyword Search: Bathsheba). Sure enough, it certainly meets the definition. But it is not what upset God about it.
God sent Nathan to confront David. Since confrontation with powerful people often does not go well, Nathan spoke metaphorically. He told David a story about a rich man who had “many flocks and herds” and a poor man who “had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him” (12:2-3). The rich man was visited by a guest and ”was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him” (v.4).
David fell into Nathan’s trap. He was incensed at the rich man’s taking advantage of the poor man and proclaimed that the rich man deserved to die and dictated a fourfold restitution. Then Nathan spoke. “You are the man” (v. 7a).
There may well be an issue of sexual ethics. David had indeed committed adultery. But what God focuses on is something even more serious. Putting aside for the moment that Nathan treats a woman as property akin to a lamb, what kindles God’s anger is the rich taking advantage of the poor, the powerful taking advantage of the weak.
It goes counter to the baggage we tend to ascribe to the Bible, as my Bible’s heading did. But it goes directly to the heart of God.
Agape,
+Stacy
Bishop Stacy Sauls
Founder and President