OT Notes 2 Sam. 11:26-12:13

Nathan-This is a classic instance of speaking truth to power. 1) Bathsheba mourns Uriah. After the mourning period, she marries David and delivers a son.This must be an especially complicated grief. It could be a gateway to speak of complicated losses in our lives. 2) Notice how Nathan does not dare speak directly at first but softens David up by involving him in a story first. Look with care at how Nathan sets up sympathy for the poor man. I would note that it is noteworthy that the right wing plays the victim card constantly. See the new book, Pity the Billionaire, by Thomas Frank. David rediscovers his sense of justice. 3) Why can a story break through David’s defenses and rationalizations? Notice that anger is what breaks through in David. Is it a righteous anger do you think? 4) One could continue to explore the linkages of sexuality and power here. Kissinger famously called power an aphrodisiac. Lately, American politicians have been involved in more tawdry sexual dalliances than financial corruption. Why? 5) Go with care through Nathan's description of God's reaction to the sins of David. 6) This includes prophecy as prediction as David's family will now cause ceaseless trouble. 7)Why does God decide to make public problems a punishment for David's attempts to keep things secret? 8) Immediately after the condemnation, David learns that he will be spared, but the child will die. Sort through the justice and injustice of that. 9)The psalm for today, 51, is said to be in response to this episode. 10) When have you had a moment of clarity aobut sin such a sDavid's, if ever? Think through why the word sin is in abeyance and replaced by all sort so alternatives, mistake, weakness, poor choice, etc.