Cover to Cover

Reading: 2 Samuel 12:1-14:24

Focus: 2 Samuel 12:1-10

How easy is it for us to look around at the world around us and condemn it, judge it, for all its faults. We get on our high horses, we speak as though we see things clearly and things should be as we say. We so quickly point out the weaknesses and character flaws of others… yet in all these things, we fail to see the problems of our own neighbourhood, families and ourselves.

King David found himself in one such case. After his adulterous actions with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Nathan approached David to rebuke him. Nathan began with an illustration of a man who had despised the property of another, after hearing the story David was quick to condemn the man. In that moment, Nathan turned upon David and rebuked him for his actions.

Like David, we are so quick to respond to the injustice, lawless, and inconsiderate actions of others. We watch the news, we hear stories about the world we live in, and we jump with fists raised in anger and condemnation…failing to realise that those very things are happening in our own backyard. If we would only lay down our pride, lay down our arrogance, to see the world with humility… We would be so much better off…

Next Reading: 2 Samuel 14:25-17:29