Chapter 6: The Parable

God sent the prophet Nathan to David.

Nathan did not come with accusations. He came with a story. Before he was a king, before he was a warrior, David was a shepherd. A boy who had protected his flock from lions and bears with his own hands. Nathan walked into the throne room and spoke to that boy.

NATHAN“There were two men in a certain town. One was rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle. But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.”— 2 Samuel 12:1-3

One day, a traveler arrived at the rich man's house and needed to prepare a meal for his guest. The rich man had more sheep than he could count. But instead of taking from what was his, he went to the poor man's house, took his only lamb, slaughtered it, and served it to his guest.

David's anger burned hot. A man who had everything, taking the only precious thing from a man who had nothing, not because he needed to, but because he could. David had spent his childhood protecting lambs exactly like that one.

DAVID“As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”— 2 Samuel 12:5-6

The king had spoken. The verdict was final.

He had no idea he had just judged himself.