"God Pause Daily Devotional" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 6 June 2016 with Scripture 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15

"God Pause Daily Devotional" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 6 June 2016 with Scripture 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-152 Samuel 11:26 When the wife of Uriyah heard that Uriyah her husband was dead, she mourned her husband. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and took her home to his palace, and she became his wife and bore him a son.

But Adonai saw what David had done as evil.

12:1 Adonai sent Natan to David. He came and said to him, “In a certain city there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had vast flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing, except for one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared. It had grown up with him and his children; it ate from his plate, drank from his cup, lay on his chest — it was like a daughter to him. 4 One day a traveler visited the rich man, and instead of picking an animal from his own flock or herd to cook for his visitor, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to him.”

5 David exploded with anger against the man and said to Natan, “As Adonai lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 For doing such a thing, he has to pay back four times the value of the lamb — and also because he had no pity.”

7 Natan said to David, “You are the man.

“Here is what Adonai, the God of Isra’el says: ‘I anointed you king over Isra’el. I rescued you from the power of Sha’ul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives to embrace. I gave you the house of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah. And if that had been too little, I would have added to you a lot more.

9 “‘So why have you shown such contempt for the word of Adonai and done what I see as evil? You murdered Uriyah the Hitti with the sword and taken his wife as your own wife; you put him to death with the sword of the people of ‘Amon. 10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house — because you have shown contempt for me and taken the wife of Uriyah the Hitti as your own wife

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When King David first spotted Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop, he was alone. All of his trusted advisors and confidants were gone fighting his war. David was just bored enough to get into trouble and just isolated enough to make a bad decision. With each action and justification, the lines blur. David is certain he can fix this mess all by himself, but his efforts only confuse his perspective and blind his loyalties.
It takes an outer voice and a fresh telling for David to regain his sight. When Nathan tells the king a story about men and sheep, David's ears transport him back to his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy. He is able to hear and see with neutrality and openness. Here, a conviction can pierce his self-righteous isolation and speak truth to the king--who is that man in the story.
God of truth, give us wisdom and humility to surround ourselves with good counsel and brave witness so that we remain accountable to each other and to you. Amen.
Meta Herrick Carlson
Zion Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Master of Divinity, 2008
2 Samuel 11:26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him.
27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,
12:1 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.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds;
3 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.
4 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."
5 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;
6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
7 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;
8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more.
9 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.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife...
13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan said to David, "Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.
14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die."
15 Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.[New Revised Standard Version]
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