The Monarchy – Part 6 The Poor Man and His Lamb 2 Sam. 12:1-25 October 16, 2016
I. Worse than AMERICAN POLITICS. (2 Sam 11)
A. It STARTS with LUST (11:1-3)
B. It MOVES to ADULTERY (11:4-5)
C. And then CONSPIRACY to MURDER. (11:6-25)
The more things change the more they stay the same. Many of us are overwhelmed
with the corruption and amoral nature of the election to the south. But even in the lovely
little Kingdom of Israel, with the good King David, we see sin has taken root and is
bringing death and destruction. It’s a story we might be tempted to leave out if we had
written 2 Samuel.
1. What surprises you about the actions of David in chapter 11? Is it different from
what we see in the “halls of power” today?
2. At any point in the process David could have stopped, but he didn’t. What does that
teach us about the nature of sin? How can we stop the “temptation train” once it
gets started?
3. Sin always expands and pulls others in. When have you seen that to be true in your
own experience?
II. God SPEAKS to David THROUGH Nathan. (12:1-25)
A. The POWER of a STORY. (v.1-7)
B. From THE sin to HIS sin. (v.5-13)
C. God’s LOVE for a SINFUL man. (v.13)
D. OWNING, ASKING, MOVING forward. (v.13-25)
Every David needs a Nathan. We all need someone who will share hard truths with us.
Someone who can assure us of the love of God and can help us dredge up the
darkness within us to expose it to the light. Nathan knows that David needs to see his
sin. And he approaches him wisely, allowing him to see the depth of what he had done.
We all need a Nathan.
4. When have you realized that you were blind to an area in your life? How did you
begin to see it clearly? What role did others play in that?
5. Read the short poem by Emily Dickinson in the bulletin. What thoughts does it bring
to your mind? Have you ever been thankful that God doesn’t fully reveal our sin to
us all at once?
6. When have you been angry over THE sin of someone else? How did you handle it?
Did you reflect on YOUR own sin in the process?
III. HEARING the STORY told to us…
A. We are often BLIND to our own SIN. (v.1-6; Jer. 17:9; Pro. 20:5)
B. We need OTHERS to help us SEE. (v.7; Gal. 2:11-14)
C. Grace both PARDONS and TRANSFORMS. (v.13; Titus 2:11-12)
D. OWN it, ASK for mercy, MOVE on. (v.13-25; Phil 3:12-14)
The Scripture becomes our Nathan. It tells a true story of David that helps us to discern
some of the things we would prefer to keep hidden within our hearts. The first step is to
stop denying our need. Once our sin is brought out into the light, God’s grace can
forgive and transform. No one looks forward to surgery, but if it’s the only way to
remove the cancer, the scalpel becomes a difficult but necessary tool.
7. How open are you to the input of others into your own spiritual life? Who would you
trust to play the role of Nathan for you?
8. If grace pardons AND transforms, can we ever show someone too much grace?
Why or why not?
9. What does it mean to “own” your sin? How do you do that?
10.What previous sin is holding you in captivity? How can you “move on”?
Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
— Emily Dickinson