“Thou Art The Man!”

Richard Thetford

D avid was referred to as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) yet he committed sin. Many today don’t even give God the chance to work in their life because they claim to “not be good enough.” In reality, nobody is “good enough” for God but God loves man, His created work, and wants all to do His will. David was not perfect and we are not perfect. Yet, why was David referred to as “a man after God’s own heart?” I believe that if we can understand why David could sin, yet still be pleasing to God, then it will help each one of us to better be able to overcome our trespasses knowing that we have hope as David did.

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

In 2 Samuel, chapter 11 we can read about the story of how David sinned in the eyes of the Lord. While the army of Israel was away fighting, David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of his house. It was here that he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He then inquired about this woman and was informed that she was the WIFE of Uriah. Knowing that she was married to another man, he still sent for her and committed adultery. She then became pregnant and in order to hide his sin he had Uriah, a very loyal servant, set up to be killed in battle. Now he was also an accessory to murder! After Uriah was killed, David took Bathsheba to be his wife. David had committed the sin of adultery with his loyal servant’s wife, Bathsheba. It says in verse 27 “...But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.” David may have thought that he hid his sin from man, but he certainly did not hide it from the Lord! We are sometimes just as foolish as David was, thinking that we can hide our sins. God knows all and SEES all!

Nathan’s Parable

Nathan was sent to David (2 Samuel 12) and told David a parable. Nathan said: “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” (2 Sam 12:1-4). When David heard this it says his “anger was greatly aroused against the man.” Then David said to Nathan “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity” (2 Sam 12:5-6).

Let’s hold this thought for just a moment. David had just committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, had him killed, and then Nathan comes and tells this parable to David and he is ready and willing to put to death that man that took the poor man’s lamb! Have we learned anything here? The preacher gets up and preaches a sermon about the importance of being faithful in our attendance. He quotes from the book of God “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:25). The man or woman in the audience is shaking their head in agreement as if to say “that’s right preacher, we should never forsake the assembly and those that do certainly will not go to heaven.” Then that night they are not in the assembly. On Wednesday night, they are not in the assembly. What happened? These people are no different than David. Nathan’s parable was directed DIRECTLY at David, yet he thought he was talking about someone else. The preachers sermon was directed DIRECTLY at the man or woman that is forsaking the assembly, yet they thought he was talking about someone else.

Thou Art The Man!

Nathan stuns David into reality by saying “Thou art the man!” “Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon” (2 Sam 12:9). David was shocked into reality but what did he do? Did he quit? Did he say “I just knew I could not be perfect,” and just give up? NO! David showed why he was a man after God’s own heart as we too can be. He said: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam 12:13). From that moment on he dedicated his life fully to the Lord. His sins were “put away” but he paid the consequences for his sins (2 Sam 12:16ff). Let us all resolve that when God speaks to us from His Word - don’t assume that He’s talking to someone else. Be honest and ask yourself “AM I THE MAN?” and if the answer is “YES,” then admit that you have sinned, repent, and serve God diligently hereafter!