The purpose of exposing Sin

 Read 2 Samuel 12. 

David probably thought the incidents that took place were over and he could now relax.  But he failed to deal with the sins in his life.  So, God sent His messenger, Nathan, to confront the king and deliver a powerfully effective message. 

Nathan used a story to capture David's full attention.  As a former shepherd, David's emotions quickly raised to anger in order to right this terrible wrong.  He announced that such a man deserves to die "because he had no pity."  It was at that point that Nathan confronted the king with four words, "You are the man!" 

The message reviewed how good God had been to David.  "And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more."  Then, the sins were specifically named aloud.  It is clear from verse 10 that the sins were not only against Bathsheba, Uriah, and others, but they were against God Himself; "you have despised me."  What David tried to hide, God exposed openly.  The purpose of doing this was to lead David to repentance. 

The cost was severe.  There would be war (v.10), immorality in his household (v.11), and the death of the child (v.14).  David did repent of his sins and he fully returned to worship God.  Psalm 51 was one of the outcomes of this confrontation. 

Here are some excerpts from David's prayer of repentance in Psalm 51.

"Have mercy on me...wash me...create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me...then will I teach transgressors your ways...then will you delight in right sacrifices..." 

God loves us too much to allow us to continue with unconfessed sin.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

(1 John 1:9)