In 2 Samuel 12:7 when Nathan said, “You are the man,” David was cut to the core. He offered no argument. He never tried to justify his sin with Bathsheba. The Holy Spirit brought about an instant awareness of the seriousness of the situation. Look at what David wrote about his sin in Psalm 51:3-4:
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
and my sin is ever before me.
Here David is saying, “I am the man.” He openly admits that Nathan’s accusation was correct. Think of how difficult it must have been for David to admit his guilt to the people of Israel.
- He was a powerful man who led their army into battle
- He was an influential man who led the people in worship.
Admitting this sin publicly would be humiliating. Look at Psalm 51:5:
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
These words were not David’s attempt to justify himself. He was not saying, “I can’t help it. I was just made like that!” NO! He’s saying instead,, “I did not just stumble just this one time, but I’m struggling all the time and I hate it! Naturally, I gravitate towards that things that drive me the furthest away from God’s blessing. It seems like I’ve been at war with my flesh from the day I was born! In sin did my mother conceive me…”
When David came forward, he not only admits his affair publicly, but he makes absolutely no excuses for it. Notice in the psalm that Bathsheba is never named. He never attributes to her even the smallest part of the blame, taking it all upon himself.
- He openly declared that he, and he alone, is responsible for what he had done.
- He admitted that he was a sinful man. He was “poor in spirit.”
- He admitted that he was born a sinner and he wanted desperately to be free of sin’s bondage.
These are the words of a man who is in mourning over his sin. When a man mourns over his sin and confesses it to God, God is quick to forgive. 1 John 1:9 says, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God delights in truth – even when that truth is difficult to admit. Look at verse 6:
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
God always works in a way that is consistent with His character. God delights in truth. He is abounding in steadfast love and forgiveness. The Lord is rich in mercy. David was fully counting on God to act in accordance with His forgiving and merciful nature.
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