August 5, 2012, 10 Pentecost
2 Samuel 11:26—12:13a
Nathan Condemns David
Background: The book of 2 Samuel is considered part
of the Deuteronomistic history and continues developing the history of the
Davidic kingship in the nation of Israel. 2 Samuel highlights the nature of the
human king; faithful and fallible. The middle section of 2 Samuel deals with
the development of the kingdom and David’s family. This section also provides a
reflection on the fallibility of the human king.
Theme: In this section, David is called to task
about his sins; adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. The prophet Nathan
returns to induce David to self-convict and pronounce God’s punishment on
himself. This section will set the stage for the turmoil in David’s family to
come.
Questions to Ponder
* Briefly describe the social, political, and religious
context of this passage.
* How might Bathsheba’s relational reference be a harbinger
for the next statement where David “sent and brought her to his house, and she
became his wife”? Why might author almost appear to place the action fully on
David’s shoulders and not on both he and Bathsheba?
* Why might Nathan have been as indirect as he was while
accusing David? How might his indirectness be in response to David’s election
as the head of the new Dynasty?
* For what reason might David say that the powerful man who
stole the lamb would have to repay 4 times for his transgression? How would the
repayment be affected if the repayment was corrected to be 7 times instead of
4?
* Why might God point out that David had been given “his
master’s wives… the house (women) of Israel and Judah”?
* How might Nathan’s reference to “the sword” being present
in David’s life be an impeachment of David’s current actions?
* What trouble from within David’s household would beset
David? How might that trouble be tied to
the sword Nathan prophesies about?
* Do you think the “taking of David’s wives in the sight of
the people” actually took place? What might the reference foreshadow?
* What might be important about David’s confession “I have
sinned against the Lord.” in David’s continuing story?
* How might this story be applicable to us as the Episcopal
Church? As St. John’s Church?
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