“Broken and Broken” – a message on David and Nathan from 2 Samuel 12

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our summer preaching series entitled “The Pursuit of God: The Life of David.” In my message this weekend, I picked up the story that Kelly preached on last weekend (“When the Respected Fall“) by exploring Nathan’s confrontation of David in 2 Samuel 12. There is so much in here about God’s awareness of us at all times, the power of living in the truth, the joy of repentance, and so much more.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”  (Psalm 51:1)

Story Opens the Way (2 Samuel 12:1-6)

Nathan’s artful parable

David’s strong response

The power of story

A Shocking Turn (2 Samuel 12:7-14) 

Nathan’s turning of the story to confront David 

Nathan names the truth

Nathan unveils the aftereffects of David’s wrong

David’s succinct admission of his wrong

Nathan promises forgiveness

David’s Repentance (2 Samuel 12:15-23)

The sickness of David and Bathsheba’s child

David in prayer and fasting  

The child’s death

David’s end of mourning and return to life

David’s Repentant Life (2 Samuel 12:24-29)

The end of mourning and the gift of a child: not God’s anger but love

The end of lax living and the return to kingly duty: a change of ways

Four Considerations

1. “The God who sees”: letting go of moral autonomy before the God who sees all
2. “The truth will set you free”: finding freedom by living in the truth
3. “Go and sin no more”: experiencing the joy of repentance
4. “The Son of Man will be delivered to sinful men”: encountering the Son whose death truly brings love, life, and new beginnings

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Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• This week, engage with the story of 2 Samuel 12 by entering into the story by slow reading. Read the story aloud at least twice. After each reading, let the Lord speak to you about your own life. What stands out to you about the flow of action, each character, and who God is in this?  
• Psalm 51 arose from the context of the story in 2 Samuel 12. This week, consider reading Psalm 51 once per day as a means for engaging with God in prayer, repentance, and forgiveness. 
• Explore some or all of these resources:
• “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood” by William Cowper
• “Miserere Mei (Psalm 51)” by Gregorio Allegri
• “Psalm 51” by Charlie Peacock