2 Samuel

2 Samuel 12: The LORD puts away sin

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Nathan and David, let us come before the LORD together. Ask Him to show us our sin, and to help us confess it to Him and turn from it.

When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

Psalm 32:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You put away David’s sin when he confessed it, and show us Jesus, who paid for sin. Help us to confess our sin and not hide it. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD sends the prophet Nathan to David with a story about a rich man who takes a poor man’s one little lamb. David is angry and says the rich man deserves to die, and that he must restore the lamb fourfold. Nathan answers, “You are the man!” and reminds David how the LORD anointed him and delivered him from Saul. David says, “I have sinned against Yahweh,” and Nathan says that the LORD has put away his sin. The child will still die, and David fasts and pleads with God until the child dies.

As you read 2 Samuel 12, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD sends His word to David, and He puts away David’s sin when he confesses it.

The LORD sent Nathan with a story of a rich man who took a poor man’s lamb (verses 1 to 4). David judged the rich man before he knew the story was about himself (verses 5 to 7). Nathan says, “You are the man,” and reminds David of all that the LORD gave him (verses 7 and 8). David has despised the LORD’s word, and he has had Uriah killed (verse 9). The LORD says the sword will never leave David’s house (verse 10). David says, “I have sinned against Yahweh” (verse 13). Nathan answers that the LORD has put away his sin, so David will not die (verse 13). Yet the child will die, because the deed gave the LORD’s enemies great occasion to blaspheme (verse 14). God set forth Christ as the payment for sin, received through faith (Romans 3 verse 25).

How does 2 Samuel 12 show us that the LORD sends His word to David, and that He puts away David’s sin when he confesses it?

A poor man loses his one lamb to a rich man.

The rich man has many flocks, but he takes the poor man’s one ewe lamb for a visitor (verses 2 to 4). David is angry at once and says the man deserves to die (verses 5 and 6). The LORD sent Nathan to tell it (verse 1). David judged the rich man before he knew the story was about himself (verses 5 to 7).

Nathan says, “You are the man,” and David must answer.

Nathan reminds David that the LORD anointed him and delivered him from Saul (verses 7 and 8). He says David has despised the LORD’s word (verse 9). David answers, “I have sinned against Yahweh” (verse 13).

The LORD puts away David’s sin when he confesses it.

Nathan tells David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die” (verse 13). Sin still brings sorrow, and the child dies (verses 14 and 18). Christ paid for sin with His own blood, and sinners receive that payment through faith (Romans 3 verse 25).

Memorise

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.

2 Samuel 12:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, which sin must I confess to the LORD today?

David said, “I have sinned against Yahweh,” and Nathan answered that the LORD had put away his sin. Sin still brought sorrow, and the child died. Forgiveness from God does not make sin cost nothing. The cost of sin was paid by Jesus on the cross.

Jesus gave His own blood for sin, and in that way God puts sin away. He died for His people, He was buried, and God raised Him to life. His one sacrifice pays for all who trust Him.

So come to Him. Turn from your sin and confess it to God. To everyone who confesses sin and trusts Christ, God puts it away, and that sin is forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD put away David’s sin when he confessed it, and that sin still brings sorrow. Parents, please explain in your own words why the child died, and why David’s sin was so serious (verses 10 to 14). Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He put away David’s sin when he confessed it, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:12

Lord God, thank You that You put away David’s sin when he confessed it, and that Jesus paid for sin. Turn every person here from sin, and help them trust Jesus. Give us a clean heart this week, and bring our heart question to You. Amen.