Nathan confronted David because the Lord sent him to expose David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. Though David was king, he was not above God’s law. Nathan’s rebuke was both a judgment and a call to repentance, demons/”>demonstrating that God holds even His anointed accountable for unrighteousness.
After David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated Uriah’s death, God sent Nathan with a parable:
“There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor… the rich man took the poor man’s only lamb… and prepared it for the wayfaring man…”
(2 Samuel 12:1–4, summarized)
David, unaware the story was about him, reacted with righteous indignation:
“As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!”
(2 Samuel 12:5)
Nathan then said:
“You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king… I gave you your master’s house… Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?’”
(2 Samuel 12:7–9)
God listed David’s sins: adultery, murder, and deceit. The consequences followed:
“The sword shall never depart from your house… the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
(2 Samuel 12:10, 14)
David responded in repentance:
“I have sinned against the Lord.”
(2 Samuel 12:13)
Nathan assured him of forgiveness, but the temporal consequences would still come. This confrontation affirmed that no one is exempt from God’s justice and that true repentance is met with mercy, though sin carries lasting effects.
