Tuesday, December 14, 2004 Nativity Fast
Martyrs Thyrsos, Leukios & Kallinikos
Kellia: 2 Samuel 12:1-24 (2 Kings 12:1-24 LXX) Epistle: Hebrews 4:1-13 Gospel: St. Luke 21:12-19
2 Samuel 12:1-24 RSV, especially vs. 13: "David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.'"
St. Theophan the Recluse states that "the awakening of a sinner is such an action of God's grace in his heart that he, having
awakened from sleep, sees his sinfulness and feels his danger. He then begins to fear for himself and concerns himself with
how he can rid himself of this trouble and save himself....Only grace takes the sinner out of his habitual and customary
bondage and relieves him from his fetters." The present reading is a straightforward example of grace awakening a sinner
and stirring him into saving action. May God so awaken and stir each of us as we read and reflect on His gracious word in
these verses. As St. Theophan emphasizes above, awakening is "an action of God's grace." The Lord was the primary
Actor in the awakening of King David. This will be seen plainly in the words which open the chapter: "and the Lord sent
Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him...." (vs. 1). The recovery of David to His Lord was the loving, gracious
work of His God Who sent Nathan. This person whom God sent was a Prophet recognized by the king and a man with
access to the king, one to whom the king very likely would listen.
Care should be taken as we consider this passage, that we not assume we are the ones who should go to the "sinners" all
around us. The Prophet of God, Nathan, was a man whose ear and heart were deeply attuned to God, who knew in the
depth of his being it was God sending him to the king. Let us always measure our desire to speak to those caught in sin
against the Lord's admonition to us: "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Mt. 7:5).
In this instance, the emissary whom God sent was able to speak to the sinner in a mode that was likely to awaken the
sleeper. Nathan used the "case history" method. He reported an event between two neighbors, "the one rich and the other
poor" (2 Sam. 12:1). The case was well crafted to rouse the ire of the king against the one who "took the poor man's lamb"
(vs. 4). The Prophet did not leave the example as a puzzle for the king to decipher, but made the application immediate
and personal to David. "You are the man." (vs. 7). These famous words served as the hand of God on the shoulder that
shook the sleeping David back to consciousness.
When God graciously brings a messenger to wake us up from sleep, we should not expect merely to be roused. Hence, the
Prophet Nathan was earnest not just to awaken the King, but to sound the truth of God's judgment on David's life: "the
sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me" (vs. 10). First and foremost, our sins are
offenses against God. At the last King David was able to confess that his adultery and murder were "against Thee only"
and I have "sinned and done this evil before Thee" (Ps. 50:4 LXX).
Note: in the face of contrition, the Prophet was swift to speak God's forgiveness also: "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'" (2 Sam. 12:13).
God's grace includes His love. Nathan also reminded the king that certain consequences would not be removed: "the child
that is born to you shall die" (vs. 14). Forgiveness usually does not remove consequences. The capstone of God's grace
and the evidence that His grace was received effectively is revealed by David's prayer, fasting, and keeping of vigil (vs. 16)
as well as by his subsequent care both to worship in "the house of the Lord" (vs. 20) and also to "comfort his wife" ( vs.
24). If I think upon the multitude of my evil deeds, I tremble for the terrible Day of Judgment. But trusting Thy
compassion, I shout to Thee like David, Have mercy upon me, O God.
