question about king david?

Question

in 2 samuel chap 12 God is angry at david for what he did with uriah and bathsheba and he sends nathan the prophet to david and nathan tells a story to him, and at the end of the story david says the person in it ought to be put to death, and nathan says "that person is you!"

how is that story similar to what david did? it seems very different to me

Answer 1

Uriah was away at war with all the men of Judah when David seduced his wife. When she became pregnant, David recalled Uriah so that he would sleep with his wife, but Uriah declined because his duty was on the battlefield. This required David to send him into a battle from which he would not return. David's only punishment seems to be the death of his children.

Some people seem to think Bathsheba shared in the culpability. That line of thinking persists to this day -- blame the victim!
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Answer 2

The rich man was David.
The poor man was Uriah.
All the lambs mentioned are wives.
The traveler that came in to town was David's lust.

Uriah only had one wife that he loved. David had many wives, but was not satisfied and took Bathsheba to satisfy his lust. In so doing, he brought death to cover his sin.

Now the point is that the story that Nathan spoke was far less an offense than what David did, correct? That is just it, for this small offense, David demanded the death of the man as well as a fourfold restoration. If that is how David responded to this small offense, then what should be the punishment for David for what HE did? David just was not getting through his head and heart what a heinous crime he was committing. He was blinded by his desire to cover it all up.

Answer 3

Illustrations are most effective when they relate to the lives of people. Nathan’s illustration of the slaughtered lamb touched the heart of King David because he loved sheep, having served as a shepherd in his youth.
David had a number of wives himself. Uriah had only BathSheba.
So, David committed adultery. Then, in an attempt to cover up his wrong, he arranged to have the woman’s husband killed. But Jehovah revealed David’s sin to Nathan the prophet, who courageously confronted David about the matter. Using a powerful illustration, Nathan asked David what should be done to a rich man who had many sheep but took and slaughtered the only lamb, a treasured pet, of a poor man to entertain his friend. David, a former shepherd, was roused to indignation and anger. He said: “The man doing this deserves to die!” Nathan then applied the illustration to David, saying: “You yourself are the man!”—2 Samuel 12:1-7.

Try to imagine the weight of grief and guilt that David must have felt when the enormity of what he had done as a result of his passion dawned on him. He could have been overwhelmed by his own sense of failure, especially because he was likely an emotional, sensitive man. He might well have felt completely worthless!

However, David quickly acknowledged his wrong, admitting to the prophet Nathan: “I have sinned against God.” (2 Samuel 12:13) Psalm 51 tells us how he felt and how he supplicated his Heavenly Father to cleanse him and forgive him. He prayed: “Thoroughly wash me from my error, and cleanse me even from my sin. For my transgressions I myself know, and my sin is in front of me constantly.” (Psalm 51:2, 3) Because he was truly repentant, he was able to rebuild his strong, close relationship with Jehovah. David did not dwell on feelings of remorse and worthlessness.

Answer 4

In the story-- the rich man had many lambs to choose from to feed his guest. The poor man had only the one living in his home. David has access to many women but Uriah had only Bathsheba. David took the one precious wife of Uriah in the same way the rich man took the only lamb from the poor man.
David's life was spared but his child died.

Answer 5

Your question isn't clear.
David Knew Bathsheba's husband would be killed if sent to the front lines.
It showed David that he had it all like the man in the story and was greedy and wanted even more that his riches.
Is that what you mean?
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Answer 6

because God gave David all that was Sauls including his wives, house, land. David turned on God by doing this sin.

Answer 7

The lamb is Bathsheba.

Answer 8

David had a lot of sheep, but he stole another mans only sheep.

Arrogance.

Answer 9

David took what was not his own, Bathsheeba, and tried to hide his crime by having uriah killed.

Answer 10

It was to make a point. A parable. An example.