2 Samuel 12
Arthur Pink · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 12
Pink says Nathan as “the piercing arrow from God’s quiver.” As an aside Nathan was not the only prophet to be sent by God to David to proclaim the consequences of sin. In 2 Samuel 24:10-13 David numbered Israel and Judah committing a sin against God and God sent Gad!
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Pink remarks... The prophet began, then, by giving an oblique representation of the vileness of David’s offence, which was conveyed in such a way that the king’s judgment was obliged to assent to the gross injustice of which he was guilty. The excuselessness, the heartlessness, and the abominable selfishness of his conduct was depicted, though Uriah’s loyal service and the king’s ingratitude and treachery, and the murder of him and his fellow-soldiers, was not alluded to— is there not a hint here that, when reproving an erring brother we should gradually lead up to the worst elements in his offense? Yet obvious as was the allusion in Nathan’s parable. David perceived not its application unto himself—how this shows that when one is out of touch with God, he is devoid of spiritual discernment: it is only in God’s light that we can see light! (2 Samuel 12 His Conviction) One little ewe lamb - Clearly this is meant to parallel Bathsheba, Uriah's one wife. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" (2 Sa 11:3) Like a daughter to him - Even as Bathsheba was someone's precious daughter. As David sowed evil by taking someone's daughter, so too he would reap in kind as his own precious daughter Tamar was coveted and her virginity stolen David's son Amnon. David had sown the seed of lust in the form of adultery but would reap the bitter harvest of incestuous rape! Beloved, let us not read over this too quickly. May God the Holy Spirit penetrate our head and heart with the truths of the rotten fruit of forsaking God's way for our wants, lest we too might come to crave evil things as David craved (cp 1Co 10:6, 11). 2Samuel 12:4 Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him: A traveler: Ge 18:2-7 Jas 1:14 Took the: 2Sa 11:3,4 Now a traveler came to the rich man - While one must be careful going beyond the limits of Scripture, in the context of David's sin, this traveler would correlate well with the lust that visited David the night he first spied Bathsheba. He took the poor man's ewe lamb - This amounts to stealing which is exactly what David had done to Uriah - he took the wife of Uriah (David "sent messengers and took her" 2Sa 11:4)!
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Pink adds That "traveler" which came to him pictures the restless flesh, the active lusts, the wandering thoughts, the roving eyes of David in connection with Bathsheba. Ah, my reader, it is at this point we most need to be upon our guard. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23). Part of that task lies in regulating our thoughts and repelling unlawful imaginations. True it is that we cannot prevent wandering thoughts from entering our minds nor evil imaginations from surging up within us, but we are responsible to resist and reject them. But this is what David failed to do: he welcomed this "traveller," he entertained him, he feasted him, and feasted him upon that which was not lawful—with that which belonged to another: pictured in the parable by the lamb belonging to his neighbor. And, my reader, it is when we give place to our sinful lusts, indulge our evil imaginations, feed our wandering thoughts upon that which is unlawful, that we pave the way for a sad fall. "Travellers" will come to us—the mind will be active—and our responsibility is to see that they are fed with that which is lawful: ponder Philippians 4:8 in this connection. (2 Samuel 12 His Conviction) Pulpit Commentary Nathan probably used these three terms chiefly to diversify his language, but it has served as a handle for much allegorizing. Thus Rashi explains it of covetousness, which comes at first as a mere “passer-by,” the literal meaning of the word rendered “traveler.” But, if admitted, it grows into “a wayfaring man,” who comes and goes on business, and stays a longer time. Finally it changes into “one who has come to him,” and remains permanently. 2Samuel 12:5 Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die: David's anger: Ge 38:24 1Sa 25:21,22 Lk 6:41,42 9:55 Ro 2:1 As the Lord lives: 1Sa 14:39 Surely the man: 1Sa 20:31 26:16 Anger burned - See 1Sa 25:13, 22, 33 for another example of David’s anger. Anger (0639) (ap/'aph) refers strictly to the nose, nostril (snout of pigs Pr 11:22) face or countenance (cf. an opening of the body, possibly the body itself, e.g., nose, nipple) considered a vital part of the body. God made man a living being by breathing into his nose/nostrils (Ge2:7) The main use of Ap/'aph is to describe the anger of men and of God. Ap/'aph gives emphasis to the emotional aspect of anger/wrath from the rapid breathing in passion or anger (picture the flaring of nostrils when one is incensed with anger!) Burned (02734) (charah) means to burn, be kindled and figuratively to glow with anger, be incensed, grow indignant. For example, God’s anger was kindled against Israel for engaging in immoral pagan rites (Nu 25:3). God instructed Moses to execute all the leaders involved so that His fierce anger might be turned away from the people. Greatly (03966) (me'od) means exceedingly; exceeding, much, abundance, very greatly; greatly. This same word was used to describe how exceedingly great was the beauty of Bathsheba (2Sa 11:2). Against the man - Notice that the rich man who had mistreated the poor man, did so because of his own desire, which is exactly why David did what he did to Uriah! What goes around, comes around! Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13, 14, 15-note, Jas 1:16-note) As the LORD lives - David underscores the depth of his emotional reaction to the evil actions of the rich man by invoking an oath to God. As the LORD lives - 35x in NAS - Jdg 8:19; Ru 3:13; 1Sa 14:39, 45; 19:6; 20:3, 21; 25:26; 26:10, 16; 28:10; 29:6; 2Sa 4:9; 12:5; 14:11; 15:21; 1Kgs 1:29; 2:24; 22:14; 2Ki 2:2, 4, 6; 4:30; 5:16, 20; 2Chr 18:13; Jer 4:2; 5:2; 12:16; 16:14 15; 23:7 8; 38:16; Hos 4:15 The man...deserves to die - In the literal Hebrew David refers to this man as "a son of death", and thus a wretch who deserves to die! David is being harsh, overly harsh. Stealing and killing a sheep is a sin (Ex 22:1) but it does not call for capital punishment. David is going way beyond what the the Law requires. He is out of fellowship with God and it shows by his emotional, "over the top" response. In pronouncing this judgment on the rich man (who represented David himself) in the story, David unknowingly condemned himself! As someone has written the chickens have come home to roost (so to speak)! How easy it is for us to excuse sin in our own life but be overly harsh and critical when dealing with sin in the lives of others! We humans have a keen sense of judgment - as long as it is on someone else! David's reaction to the rich man's coveting and stealing what belonged to another man reminds us of Paul's accusation in Romans... Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? (Ro 2:1, 2-note, Ro 2:3-note) Comment: Be careful in condemning the flaws of others, for sometimes what we condemn in others reflects our own character flaws! Alan Redpath asks... Have you observed that when you excuse sin in your own life, you become very critical of it in other people (cp Jesus warning in Mt 7:1, 2-note, Mt 7:3, 4, 5-note). The person who hides an uneasy conscience and a sense of guilt may flash out in anger against the sin of another. Is that why some of us are so merciless with the Christian who has tripped up? Is that why we have no gospel for the believer who falls? It may be not because we are very holy but because we are unholy that we condemn the thing in another as we refuse to judge in our own lives. Let us not forget the words of our Master, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast the stone. Alan Carr wisely warns us Never think for a minute that sin can be successfully hidden away forever. God knows exactly where it is buried, Heb 4:13-note, and when the time is right, he will place His finger right on the sore spot and He will press. He will confront that hidden sin and expose it for what it is! That will be a shocking day in the life of the guilty party. That is why it is so important for us to keep short accounts with God! Chuck Smith It's amazing how awful our sins look to us when someone else is committing them.. We seek to justify our own actions. We so graciously excuse in ourselves the things we condemn in others.. This should teach us to be careful how we judge others. "Thou art inexcusable O man." Stevenson What really annoys you about others? What is it about someone that really gets under your skin? Chances are that it is something of which you yourself are guilty. There is a lesson here. It is that we normally find it easier to see the faults in others than we can see them in ourselves. I don’t see the main faults in my own life. That goes for you, too. Whatever you think are your primary faults are not. (2 Samuel 11-12 David's Sin) 2Samuel 12:6 He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.: Restitution: Ex 22:1 Pr 6:31 Lk 19:8 Because: Jas 2:13 Make restitution (07999) (shalam from root s-l-m = denotes perfection in the sense that a condition or action is complete and thus a sense of completion and fulfillment, of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship) means to be completed, to be finished and in the present context means to restore or bring to a previous, preferable state (cp Job 8:6) and to repay or give recompense (Ex 21:34, of God repaying - 1Sa 24:20, Jer 32:18). Restitution means a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury or something taken. The Septuagint (Lxx) translates shalam in this verse with the verb apotino meaning to pay back, to pay damages, to compensate. No compassion - In the Greek the "no" is absolute signifying total absent of this attribute. Compassion (02550) (chamal) describes the emotional response which results (or may result) in action to remove its object (and/or its subject) from impending difficulty. This is the exact antithesis of what David did to Uriah, assuring that he would be placed in life threatening difficulty! Fourfold - David had apparently obeyed God's charge to write a copy of the Law and so he knew what the Law stated about stealing someone's sheep. Moses' recorded that If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep. (Exodus 22:1) John
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Pink comments on David's despising the Word of the LORD... Ah, it is contempt of the divine authority which is the occasion of all sin—making light of the Law and its Giver, acting as though its precepts were mere trifles, and its threats meaningless. So why did David commit adultery with Bathsheba and murder her husband, one of his own "mighty men" (2Sa 23:1, 8, 39)? Simply put - He despised the Word of God. He despised the commandment that said "Do not covet." He despised the commandment that said "Do not steal (your neighbor's wife)." He despised the commandment that said "Do not commit adultery." He despised the commandment that said "Do not commit murder." The Word of God is given to us to keep us from walking in darkness (and from despising the God of the Word!)... Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. Assuming that David obeyed the instructions in Deuteronomy, he would have surely known God's law (and light) regarding another's man's wife (adultery) and life (murder)... 16 "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.' 17 "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself (David began to drift from the protecting power of the Word of God in 2Sa 5:12, 13, 1Chr 14:2, 3 - Beloved of the LORD, are you beginning to slowly, imperceptibly drift away from the protective mooring of His Word of Truth and Life? Are you beginning to believe a lie which leads to death? Then choose to repent and return so that the times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord! Acts 3:19), lest his heart (the "control center") turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. 18 "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law (the Pentateuch, the first 5 books of Moses) on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life (How often does he need the Word? Will he ever outgrow his need for the Word? What is the best way to keep the Word with us daily, even moment by moment, that we might be able to take up the shield of faith and deflect the fiery missiles of the evil one? [Eph 6:16-note, cp relationship between Word and Faith in Ro 10:17-note] See Memorizing His Word, Memory Verses by Topic, cp Ps 119:9, 11), that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart (Notice the repetition of the "heart") may not be lifted up above his countrymen (A good "definition" of pride = a heart lifted up above others!) and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel (Notice that one's lineage is impacted by the decisions of the father!). (Deut 17:16-20) R A Torrey (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge)... Those who despise the Word and law of God, despise God Himself, and will assuredly suffer for such contempt. Rossier... David had preferred his sin to God. What a terrible thing! Do our consciences have nothing to say to us? Every natural heart has lusts that attract it. By “lusts” we mean not only the defiling things of the world but also “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” — pleasures, vanity, and ambition. These things find easy access into a Christian's heart. How many days and years often pass without our shutting the door to them! Every time we open the door to this visitor we are despising the Lord Himself. This is the reason for God's judgment on His servant here. The graces granted to David were earthly; ours are “spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ.” (Ep 1:3) Do our hearts value these things so much that they offer no asylum to this “traveler”? The Lord's discipline and judgment will fall on us in the measure that we receive or reject this visitor. Have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon - This fact (inspired by God in David's mouth) would serve to rebut any defense by David that it was not he but the enemy who had killed Uriah. If Nathan had stopped at "you have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword", David might have responded with the rationalization that "I wasn't even present when Uriah was killed. How could I possibly be guilty of his death by sword?" APPLICATION: ARE YOU DESPISING THE WORD OF THE LORD? Let's apply this passage to our lives. The question is do you despise (or have little regard for) the Word of God in your life? You may be thinking "Of course not. I would never despise His holy Word!" If you are unsure, ask yourself how much time do you spend reading and studying it in a given week. The truth is that if you say almost no time at all, you are in effect despising the Word of the Lord! 2Samuel 12:10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.': The sword: 2Sa 13:28,29 18:14,15,33 1Ki 2:23, 24, 25 Am 7:9 Mt 26:52 Because: Nu 11:20 1Sa 2:30 Mal 1:6,7 Mt 6:24 Ro 2:4 1Th 4:8 Have taken: Ge 20:3 Pr 6:32,33 THE CONSEQUENCES OF BAD CHOICES Beloved it behooves us all to keep in mind that while we are free to choose the sin, cannot choose the consequences! F B Meyer Sin may be forgiven (2Sa 12:13), as David’s was, and yet a long train of sad consequences ensue. The law of cause and effect will follow on, with its linked chain of disaster: though God’s mercy to his erring and repentant children will be shown, in converting the results of their sin into the fires of their purification; in setting alleviation of the tenderest sort against their afflictions; and in finally staying the further outworking of evil. O soul of man, this is solemn reading for us; it is the inner story of God’s dealing with his own. As He dealt with David, He will deal with us. He will forgive, but He may have to use the rod; He may restore to his favour, and yet permit us to drink the bitter waters which our sin has tapped. Be meek, patient, and submissive; thou wilt come forth out of the ordeal a white soul, and men shall learn through thy experiences the goodness and severity of God. Forgiven men may have to reap as they have sown. (The Stripes of the Children of Men) Blaikie comments that... Here we find a great principle in the moral government of God, — correspondence between an offence and its retribution. Of this many instances occur in the Old Testament. Jacob deceived his father; he was deceived by his own sons. Lot made a worldly choice; in the world’s ruin he was overwhelmed. So David having slain Uriah with the sword, the sword was never to depart from him. He had robbed Uriah of his wife; his neighbours would in like manner rob and dishonour him. He had disturbed the purity of the family relation; his own house was to become a den of pollution. He had mingled deceit and treachery with his actions; deceit and treachery would be practised towards him. What a sad and ominous prospect! Men naturally look for peace in old age; the evening of life is expected to be calm. But for him there was to be no calm; and his trial was to fall on the tenderest part of his nature. He had a strong affection for his children; in that very feeling he was to be wounded, and that, too, all his life long. Oh let not any suppose that because God’s children are saved by His mercy from eternal punishment, it is a light thing for them to despise the commandments of the Lord! “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that thy fear is not in Me, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Jer 2:19KJV) (An Exposition of 2Samuel) The sword shall never depart - Observe that David's sowing of sin by the sword (struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword...have killed him with the sword.... 2Sa 12:9) would reap a similar harvest. And just as Nathan had had prophesied (and David also may have "foretold" when he called for fourfold restitution [2Sa 12:6] - David's son by Bathsheba was the first of the four to die [2Sa 12:14, 15]) we see Absalom avenge Amnon's rape of his sister Tamar (Observe Amnon taking a woman that was forbidden, just as his father had done!) by striking Amnon and putting him to death (see 2Sa 13:28, 29). We see Joab and his armor bearers strike Absalom and kill him (2Sa 18:14,15), which prompted a painful mourning from King David (he would have surely given anything to go back and reverse that night he looked at Bathsheba but it was too little, too late as they say)... The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (2Sa 18:33) And finally we see King Solomon order the death of David's other son Adonijah (2Ki 2:23, 24, 25). While David did not live to see Adonijah's death, he must surely have been aware that his passing of the reign to his son Solomon was tantamount to passing a death sentence on his eldest son Adonijah. Solomon penned words that ironically were an apt description of the harvest from David's sins... The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find, and his reproach will not be blotted out. (Pr 6:32, 33-note) Had David only known that one glance allowed to turn into a lingering, lustful (lust filled) gaze on a spring evening would set in motion a lifelong avalanche of death, suffering and pain! How vital is it that we read and heed David's tragic story of the lifelong cost for just a moment of pleasure! This is why Paul writes the warning in first Corinthians... Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved....Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1Cor 10:6, 11) Comment: What "things"? In context Paul is referring to the sequelae of sin in the life of rebellious Israel, but by way of application, he is referring to the instructive lessons in the lives of the Old Testament saints. We do well to study them often, so that we might be motivated to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age (Titus 2:12-note). Zeisler comments... Some people think of the consequences from God as random punishments from an angry deity. "I did something that made God mad, and that's why I got hit by lightning," or, "That's why I contracted this disease." It's rare that God directs specific negative events at a person as consequences for sin. In Romans 1, when we read of the descent of a culture into wickedness, it says God "gave them over" and let rebels have what they wanted. We create consequences for ourselves. We set in motion terrible things that have their own life, that bring their own hurt. That's exactly what Nathan was predicting here. Three of David's sons would end up dying untimely deaths. Two of those were acting just like their father. They learned of his lust, lies, and violence, and they acted similarly. (YOU HAVE DESPISED THE WORD OF THE LORD) Never - This word "never" must have been painful to David. Beloved, we need to heed this warning. While every bad choice has the potential for negative consequences, some bad choices may bring about consequences that never go away (until glory)! That truth should cause each of us to "think twice" before we make the foolish choice to willfully, wantonly leap into the next sin!