Living in the Spirit

July 26, 2021

Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13a

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, ‘There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 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 meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 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.’ 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; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.’ –2 Samuel 12:1-6

Of course, David was the man who took Bathsheba after having her husband killed in battle. Nathan used this story to tell a powerful man the reality he needed to face. There are many influential people in our world today running roughshod over anybody that gets in the way of their power or their greed. They, like David, have lost all sense of how their prestige and wealth have reshaped their view of themselves. It takes a child’s story to remind David what he had known all his life from his experience as a shepherd. Good shepherds, rather than taking advantage of their sheep, protect them from harm. Perhaps we all need to examine ourselves and see if there is a lesson here for all of us.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I forget to love my neighbor as I live myself. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.