Post by Woody Williams on Aug 30, 2005 11:09:36 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- II Samuel 11:27b-12:1-7, 9
----------
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man 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. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he 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." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.
Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
Devotional
----------
The role of the prophet is the role of conscience in the community. When King David's conscience was not working, the Lord spoke to him through the prophet Nathan. Nathan tells David a story that touches David's sense of justice, and stirs his anger at a terrible abuse. David asks for the man to be identified. "You are the man," said Nathan. All of a sudden David's conscience is awakened to what he has done. The conscience can be deadened and silenced. It is at those times that we need a voice from the outside to call us to accountability. The response is repentance.
Prayer
-------------
O Lord, provide the prophetic voice for me when I silence my conscience. Amen
----------
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man 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. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he 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." Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.
Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
Devotional
----------
The role of the prophet is the role of conscience in the community. When King David's conscience was not working, the Lord spoke to him through the prophet Nathan. Nathan tells David a story that touches David's sense of justice, and stirs his anger at a terrible abuse. David asks for the man to be identified. "You are the man," said Nathan. All of a sudden David's conscience is awakened to what he has done. The conscience can be deadened and silenced. It is at those times that we need a voice from the outside to call us to accountability. The response is repentance.
Prayer
-------------
O Lord, provide the prophetic voice for me when I silence my conscience. Amen