A Blessed Sinner

Tuesday after Pentecost 2
8 June 2010

One of the most powerful moments in the Old Testament's depiction of God's love for a sinful people arises as the result of murder and adultery. Of course, we are thinking of the sin of King David with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite, at David's command. This puts the court preacher, Nathan, in a ticklish position. He is required by God to go before the King, who has committed murder to cover up his sin and accuse him of that sin.

Nathan must have thought, "Oh, this is a great idea. Accuse an autocratic and murderous monarch of his sin in public. I will end up like Uriah; cut down by David's wrath." How Nathan must have agonized before preaching his wonderful sermon by which David entraps himself into a public confession of his sin (2 Sm 12). Nathan did his duty and he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (1 Pt 2:23) and entreating the Lord he was heard because of his reverent submission (Heb 5:7).

The Lord rescued threatened Nathan and saved the besmirched David, leading him to confess his sins and receive from the Lord his abundant mercy. How comforting for us sinners to know that we have a gracious God like the God who forgave David, who now described himself as a blessed man because his transgressions are forgiven and his sins are covered (Ps 32:1).

Cyril of Jerusalem

"Come to the blessed David, and take him for an example of repentance. Great as he was, but he fell. After his sleep, walking in the evening on the housetop, he cast a careless look, and felt a human passion. His sin was completed, but there died not with it his candor concerning the confession of his fault. Nathan the Prophet came, a swift accuser, and a healer of the wound. He says, 'The Lord is angry because you have sinned' (2 Sam 12). Nathan, the mere subject, spoke thus to the reigning king. But David the king was not indignant, for he regarded not the speaker, but God who had sent him. He was not puffed up by the array of soldiers standing round. For he had seen in thought the angel host of the Lord, and he trembled 'as seeing Him who is invisible' (Heb 11:27). To the messenger, or rather in answer to God who sent him, he said, 'I have sinned against the Lord' (2 Sm 12:13).

"Don't you see the humility of the king? Don't you see his confession? Had anyone convicted him? Were many privy to the matter? The deed was quickly done, and straightway the Prophet appeared as accuser, and the offender confesses the fault. And because he candidly confessed, he received a most speedy cure. For Nathan the Prophet who had uttered the threat, said immediately, 'The Lord has taken away your sin' (2 Sam 12:13). See the swift relenting of a merciful God."

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 7.10