Read 2 Samuel 12.
David probably thought that the incidents that took place were over and he could now relax. But he had not dealt 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 method 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 from the LORD went back to review 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 so David would finally repent.
The cost was severe. There would be war (v.10, immorality in his own household (v.11), and the death of the child (v.14). David did repent and he fully returned to worship God. Psalm 51 was one of the outcomes of this confrontation.
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)
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