There are two errors that people often fall into – seeing God as one only of judgement, or seeing God as one only of forgiveness. The truth is, God is a God of both, and we see this play out in how God responded to David’s sin with Bathsheba.
David thought he had got away with his sin. Swept it under the rug. Tidied things up nicely. No public harm, no public foul. Boy was he wrong. God saw. And in 2 Samuel 12:1-15, God convicted David of his sin. But God also extended grace and forgiveness for David’s sin, even though the implications would flow through the rest of David’s reign.
While David thought all was hunky-dory, God dispatched Nathan to confront David (v.1). Rather than a direct accusation which would stir denials, Nathan effectively had David convict and judge himself.
Nathan presented David with a story, which David may have thought was a case requiring a ruling. He told the story of a rich man who wanted to host a party for a traveller, but did not want to spend his own possessions. So this rich man took the prized family lamb of a poor man and killed it to cook and present for his visitor (vv.1-4).
King David was furious. “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” (vv.5-6). Judgement, and compensation. Unknowingly, David had weighed himself in the balance.
Nathan’s words to David would have struck like a knife. “You are the man!” (v.7). Then followed God’s accusation. Nathan reminded David of how God had blessed him with kingship and wives (vv.7-8). He was the rich man! What did he need a poor man’s wife for!
Yet that is what he senselessly took. He took Uriah’s “lamb” for himself, and murdered Uriah to cover up the crime with the “sword” of the Ammonites (v.9).
For this sin, he would receive judgement. Firstly, the sword used against Uriah would find itself plunged into David’s house (v.10). Secondly, David would experience the loss of his wives to another (v.11). David sinned secretly. God would judge publicly (v.12). All this because David had “despised” God by not being satisfied with what he had, but sinfully taking what was not his (v.10).
David deserved death. The Law itself makes it clear. Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22 both state the penalty for adultery was death, let alone Uriah’s murder!
Death is not what David received. When confronted with his sin, David repented without any “buts”. Whereas Saul attempted to explain away his sin, David simply spoke “I have sinned against the LORD” (v.13). There was no escaping it. There was no excuse.
There was no death. “Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die’” (v.13). Grace conquers judgement for David, one of God’s People. There is no reason given for why, simply the marvellous truth. God will not execute judgement against David; he instead received mercy.
However, there would still be consequences. While David would not die, the son born to him and Bathsheba would (v.14). David’s son would, in a sense, be his substitute. Forgiveness was not cost free. A price would have to be paid. But David would not pay it with his own life.
And that, as Nathan left to go home (v.15), was that.
And that, much the same for us, is that. We all sin and fall short of God’s holy standard. We sin in thought and deed. We sin in private and public. Some sins will never be known to anyone but God. Yet all our very best acts are like filthy rags. We do not deserve his grace. We do not deserve forgiveness.
Yet that is what we receive. Not because there is forgiveness without judgement. Rather, because we receive forgiveness while another received judgement instead of us. As our substitute.
David’s son would die. Many centuries later, another of David’s far-off sons would die. This one never sinned. This one was the one who bore the curse of David’s sins on his shoulders, as he went to the Cross for his far-off father. The same one who bore our sins on his shoulders. Jesus.
It is only because of Jesus’ sinless life and perfect death on the Cross that God could forgive David. And it is for the same reason that God can forgive us of our sins. It is not costless, but very pricey. We just do not pay the true price.
All we have to do is acknowledge before God that we too are sinners. That there is no excuse. Whatever the sin, that it was an act against God, and against his goodness to us.
There may be implications in this life for our acts, but God’s forgiveness takes away the penalty of the judgement, which Jesus bore for David, and for us.
