SOAP Journal from 2 Samuel 12 "You are the Man!"

S = 2 Samuel 12:5-7a, 9, 13 “Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, and 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! …Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? ...David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless…”

O = Nathan’s inspired word picture caused David’s anger to flare up in indignation, not knowing that this was about his own sin. One of the first symptoms of self-deception is demanding judgment to the fullest extent of the law for others while expecting grace for ourselves. David was looking for mandatory sentencing guidelines when he should have been crying out for mercy. [Side note: Why is it animal stories get people more worked up than people stories? God is bothered by injustice.]  Another thing I notice is that God says this sin of David in reality “despised the word of the Lord.” I don’t like to think of my own sin in such stark terms…but my sin starts when I love something else more than the Lord and I stop paying attention to his love letters (the Bible). I do appreciate that when David’s eyes are opened after he unknowingly judges himself, he makes full confession. Finally, there is the “Nevertheless”. While David’s life was spared, he still had to face the public consequences of his sin.

A = Am I in the Word today not as a duty but as devotion and even a desperation? If I don’t stay in close relationship with the Lord via reading his Word and prayerfully letting his Word “read me”, I would soon begin to make selfish decisions like those that led to David’s tragic sins. In the end I will follow what I really desire. Will-power is not a long-term solution. I need to desire Jesus more and more, this happens when I spend more and more time relating to him.

P = O Lord, may my times with you be freshened by your love this week. May I never stop allowing you to gently correct the trajectory of my life and the affections of my heart. If I am unaware of my sin please soften my heart to the convicting influence of the Holy Spirit so that I might confess it and repent. Lord, I don’t want my sins to produce “nevertheless” type consequences for others this week, instead make me an instrument of blessing to those I meet.  Amen.