He Corrected the King

‘HOW could such a good man turn to doing such terrible things?’ Nathan the prophet may have wondered something like that as he made his way toward the palace of his friend King David. Some time ago, Jehovah had directed Nathan to tell David something wonderful about the future: The Messiah would come from David’s family line! (2 Sam. 7:4, 12, 13) But now, David had committed terrible sins. And Jehovah wanted Nathan to correct him.

David had acted in secret, but Jehovah was watching. God must have told Nathan what had happened. One night, David was walking on his rooftop when he caught sight of a woman bathing. He saw that she was “very beautiful,” and he sent for her. The king knew that this woman, Bath-sheba, was the wife of his loyal soldier Uriah the Hittite. Yet, David committed adultery with her. In time, Bath-sheba informed David that she was pregnant. David tried to conceal his crime. He urged Uriah to leave his fellow soldiers and spend the night with his wife. (Compare 1 Samuel 21:5.) But Uriah refused to shirk his duty to the army. David then plotted to have Uriah stationed where he would be killed in battle. That evil plan worked. After Uriah was dead, David took Bath-sheba as his wife.

The Bible says: “What David had done was very displeasing to Jehovah.” The true God then directed his prophet Nathan to correct David and expose his sin. As Nathan went to the king, did he wonder how David would react? After all, if David had been willing to murder Uriah, what might the king do to Nathan for exposing and rebuking him? Nathan wanted to reach David’s heart and help him feel just how wicked his actions were. The prophet surely prayed over the matter. With an illustration in mind, he came before the king.

Nathan told David about two men in one city. One was a very rich man who had many sheep and cattle. The other was a poor man who had only one lamb, and he loved that animal: it was a family pet. One day, the rich man received an unexpected visitor and needed a sheep to slaughter for food. He did not choose one of his own sheep. Rather, “he took the poor man’s lamb,” slaughtered it, and prepared it as a meal for his guest. As Nathan finished his story, David was furious! He said: “As surely as Jehovah is living, the man who did this deserves to die!” He was outraged because this wealthy man “showed no compassion.”

Nathan had chosen his illustration wisely. David had been a shepherd himself, and he usually hated injustice. So Nathan courageously drove his point home: “You are the man!” David must have been shocked. Nathan detailed all that David had done, all that Jehovah had seen. The prophet delivered Jehovah’s decision: Violence and calamity would afflict David’s family for years to come. How would David respond?

The king spoke: “I have sinned against Jehovah.” David was cut to the heart and deeply repentant. Nathan was surely relieved to pass on Jehovah’s merciful judgment: “Jehovah, in turn, forgives your sin. You will not die.” However, David suffered greatly from the consequences of his sin with Bath-sheba. The son of their illicit union died. And for many years, violence, disloyalty, and even treason afflicted his family.

Through it all, David stayed faithful. He was inspired to write deeply moving psalms about repentance and divine forgiveness. (Psalms 32 and 51) The king regained his standing with Jehovah as a man of integrity, and he valued Nathan’s counsel to the end of his days. David died as a faithful servant of Jehovah. (1 Ki. 9:4) Nathan was surely glad that he had mustered up the courage to counsel that wayward king.

Read the Bible account:

• 2 Samuel 11:1–12:18

For discussion:

In what ways did Nathan show courage?

Dig Deeper

1. 1. Nathan was a Bible writer, but we know nothing about his ancestry or personal life. What may this reveal about him? (w12 2/15 25 ¶2-3)

   Your answer

2. 2. Uriah was a Hittite. So why was he part of David’s army? (w24.04 31)

   Your answer

3. 3. Nathan prophesied calamity for David’s household. How was that prophecy fulfilled? (it “David” ¶29)

   Your answer

4. 4. How did Nathan act courageously during the final years of David’s kingship? (w12 2/15 25 ¶1) A

   Your answer

   

Reflect on the Lessons

• What does Nathan’s example teach us about how to help a friend who makes a serious mistake?

  Your answer

• How could we imitate Nathan’s approach when we need to reach someone’s heart? B

  Your answer

  

• In what other ways might you imitate the courage of Nathan?

  Your answer

Meditate on the Bigger Picture

• What does this account teach me about Jehovah?

  Your answer

• How does the account tie in with Jehovah’s purposes?

  Your answer

• What would I like to ask Nathan in the resurrection?

  Your answer

Learn More

How did David’s actions hurt himself, his friends and family, and Jehovah God?

Remember How Love Behaves​—Does Not Look for Its Own Interests (1:14)

Learn what made Nathan’s counsel so effective.

“Respond Humbly to Correction” (Web series “Bible Study Activities”)