April 20, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, April 20.
Lately there’s been a lot in the news about religious leaders speaking out to political leaders. It reminded me of a dramatic encounter found in 2 Samuel, an encounter between a political leader named David and a religious leader named Nathan.
Nathan was a prophet during the time of King David. We first meet him in 2 Samuel Chapter 7, when David was just beginning his reign and, filled with youthful ambition, proclaimed his desire to build a temple for Jehovah. Nathan, however, received a message from God in a dream that David was not to be the one to build it. He bravely came before the young king to deliver this disappointing news. David, to his credit, accepted Nathan’s instruction, and accepted the will of God.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 12, we find a much darker encounter. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. Nathan came to the palace and shared a parable with the king - the story of a rich man who owned hundreds of lambs and a poor man who had just one. When the rich man welcomed a guest to his dinner table, instead of serving one of his own lambs, he took the single lamb from the poor shepherd. When David heard this, he raged against the actions of the man in the story. And, in that moment, Nathan rose to his feet and said - “YOU are the man!”.
In speaking truth to power, Nathan risked his position and perhaps his life. David, however, accepted the indictment from the prophet and was moved to a heart of repentance. We can read his sorrowful thoughts in Psalm 51. And when, years later, David and Bathsheba had a son, the king named him . . . Nathan.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
