Preparing for Sunday, July 25
Jul 21st, 2010 |
This week, we conclude our Summer at the Movies sermon series with the movie The Apostle and our scripture lesson comes from 2 Samuel. To understand this section of scripture, you really need to take the time to read the entire story of David and Bathsheba found in chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Samuel, but in the midst of the story the fearless prophet Nathan holds a narrative mirror up to King David:
26When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27When 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,
12and 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. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3but 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. 4Now 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.” 5Then 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; 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! 2 Samuel 11:26-12:7
12and 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. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3but 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. 4Now 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.” 5Then 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; 6he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! 2 Samuel 11:26-12:7
- David was quick to judge the rich man while blind to his own. Why is it easier to see and judge the sins of others than to see our own sin?
- Have you ever experienced someone pointing out your own sin to you? How did it feel? How did you react? Did you change your behavior as a result?
- Is there such a thing as “private” sin? What are the consequences of sin? And does our repentance and God’s willingness to forgive change those consequences? If so, how?
Join us this Sunday as we consider how we are “the man” and what that means for our relationship with God.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Sherill