Don't Despise Your Nathan

2 Samuel 12:1a, ESV

And the LORD sent Nathan to David.

When God sent the prophet Nathan to David, David had been in a downward spiral of sin which looked something like this: sin→panic→trying to cover it up→hiding from God.

Just like Adam and Eve in the garden. 

So God confronted him with his sin—because that’s what God does.

God went to Adam and Eve in the Garden.

He confronted Jacob and Moses and the kings and the people of Israel. 

Jesus made eye contact with Peter after Peter’s third denial.

He confronted Saul on the road to Damascus. 

And God sent Nathan to David. 

God will find a way to confront us when we’re walking in disobedience, but the confrontation of God is the kindness of God—to draw us to repentance. It is him walking with us in the cool of the day, a glance of love and conviction after our moment of failure, or the voice of a trusted friend (or spouse!) when we’re too blind to see our own error. The beautiful thing about the confrontation of God is that when the Lord confronts us with our sin, it is to draw us back to himself.

So don’t despise the conviction—embrace it.

Embrace your Nathan. 

And be a Nathan when you’re called to be one.