Last Sunday I didn’t have enough time to finish my sermon, so I omitted the third conversation between Nathan and David. It occurred on David’s death bed and regarded the succession plan for Israel’s throne. David had committed that the heir to the kingdom would be Solomon. Another son, Adonijah, had something else in mind. While David was on his death bed, Adonijah was garnering support to establish himself as the successor. When Bathsheba heard about it, she solicited the help of Nathan. Check it out:
While Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to see you.” Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?” (1 Kings 1:22-27, NLT)
A truth teller in your life will help you find clarity, and even point out error and sin in your life. But a third benefit is that a truth teller will protect your blind side. No one likes an interventionist. We’ve conditioned ourselves to “mind our own business” and to “butt out.” But a Nathan will mind your business because they love you too much not to. They will protect you at your point of vulnerability and weakness.
This week I’ve written about a fundamental relationship we all need in life: someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. A Nathan in your life can prove to be a marvelous gift. In fact, the name Nathan literally means, “gift from God.” David so appreciated Nathan’s care for his life that he named one of his sons Nathan. That Nathan would become a part of the lineage of Jesus Christ on Mary’s side.
Who’s your Nathan? You may do great things without a truth teller in your life, but you’ll never be great without one.