Accompanying music if you so choose. Sanvean - Lisa Gerrard
“As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die!”
David furiously shouts these words with the conclusion of the prophet Nathan’s story. A strange tale about a poor man’s only beloved lamb and a rich man who takes and slaughters it for his own dinner guests.
This story is fairly familiar and the connections between the parable and David’s unfathomable sins of adultery, deceit, and murder are quickly made. It’s just a creative way for Nathan to bring up an uncomfortable subject to the all-powerful ruler of Israel, is it not?
I’ve heard this story countless times throughout my life as a part of the arc of David’s story. However, this part of the tale has been on a repeating loop in my mind recently. Why did this story stir up such a storm in David? He is the king. He is wealthy beyond measure. When he says “He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” I can understand this part of the reaction. Isn’t this our typical approach to injustice, especially in America? Someone with power, privilege, and wealth making restitution for their crimes with compensation.
But repayment is not the first thing David demands. First, he swears by God that this rich man deserves death. All because of one lamb. This doesn’t sound like a balanced and appropriate reaction to the crime. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the rich man just give the poor man another lamb or four? Why the intense emotional outburst?
Let us perhaps consider that as Nathan is telling David this story a memory is being triggered deep within the king of Israel.
Back. Back before he was king. Before the death of Jonathan his most loyal and kindred spirit. Before the many years of anxiety and loneliness as he ran and hid in the wilderness from Saul, his own king. Before his days as Israel’s most celebrated warrior, defeating thousands of Philistines and their champion, Goliath. Back, even before he had been anointed by the prophet Samuel with the promised blessing of God.
Was there not a tender memory that pained his heart? Of a young, sweet shepherd boy strumming his harp as he composed songs about the mysteries and majesty of his God. His curly red hair being stirred by the warm summer breeze as though the hand of his Father couldn’t help but rustle it. At the conclusion of his melody echoing off the white speckled hills around him the sheep bleat their amen. From their midst, a small lamb clumsily trots over to him. The boy embraces him in his arms as he picks grass and thorns from the snowy white fleece. Holding it close he feels it’s warmth and every breath. It’s pounding heart beating against his own. Such an innocent and pure love shared between them as he kisses its forehead. He would fight bears and lions for this young one. He would scour the hills and dark valleys to find it when it wandered off. This vulnerable, beautiful creature, loved with all the passion of a youthful heart.
Staring into the distance of his memories, did king David’s heart not singe with a precious ache for one so dear to him? I believe it is no coincidence that Nathan told this Spirit-inspired tale to his king. It tore down all the pomp and glory of the palace both surrounding and within David, reducing him to the heart of the boy who cared for those that were entrusted to him by his father. Those that knew his voice. This boy could scream out “The man who did this must die!” in righteous outrage.
The prophet then delivers the sickening plot twist to his king. “You are the man!”. With the revelation that it is, in fact, himself that is the monster in the story could David not look down at his trembling hands and see the heartbreak of the violated and the blood of the innocent crying out to heaven for justice? The throne of his lies melts underneath him as he is swallowed up in the holy fire of the truth.
The parable is not meant to circumvent or be clever or cruel. The story strips a king bare upon the deeper revelation. Exposed, David laments “I have sinned against God”. David knows that he deserves the very punishment he demanded of the rich man. But here God shows himself to be the greater King in an act of mercy. Nathan proclaims “The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Severe consequences of David’s sins will follow, but in the telling of the parable, the Spirit of God reaches back into the recesses of David’s soul and delivers a bittersweet grace. A story to inflame the tenderness of a child. To spur repentance and restore a heart after its first love.
Inspired from 2 Samuel 12:1-15.
Artwork: The Hidden Hope in Lament - Rebecca STAHR
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