Confrontation

2 Samuel 11 &12
    Confrontation has become almost taboo in 2018, and 2019 isn’t looking any better. People respond and react different to confrontation. Some people thrive in confrontational situations, and others crumble. But, there is another side to confrontation. The one doing the confronting. Often people are labeled as “confrontational,” as if it is a bad thing, but when it comes to the Bible, we are told in one manner or another to confront those in sin. In James 4:19-20 scripture says, “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” There are a couple of lessons here, 1) someone who is saved can stray from the truth and put their soul in the way of death, 2) it is the responsibility of the brethren to bring the erring Christian back to the truth. When I consider people confronting sin, I have to think about Nathan the prophet confronting and rebuking King David. In 2 Sam. 11 we read about David sinning with Bathsheba. Not only did he lay with a married woman, committing adultery, but he tried to cover up the pregnancy. When Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, chose not to be treated better than those who were still battling, (2 Sam. 11:10-11) David had him killed, by putting him on the front lines and having the armies retreat behind him (2 Sam. 11:15; 24). Here’s where a choice had to be made. The King has now committed adultery and murder, so someone has to be bold enough to confront him. Nathan had the boldness to tell David he had sinned by stating “You are the man!” in 2 Sam. 12:1-8. We can learn two more important lessons from this. We need to be like Nathan, and when we see brethren in sin, it doesn’t matter how much power or how “important” that person is, we need to call it out. But we need to be like David, after we have been confronted, if we are the ones found in sin. He didn’t argue with Nathan, nor make orders to have him killed. David submitted to God and what his will was for the consequence of the sin (2 Sam. 12:12-15). Nathan and David both serve as great examples as to how we are to treat sin. I love you all!

In His service,
Steven Hugley