“Are you ready?”

Parents pose this question to their children, often daily. The coach

ensures his star pitcher is ready to stand at the mound. Skydivers

are quizzed as they are about to leap out of an aircraft.

There are many moments in life when being ready significantly

matters. We spend countless hours preparing on the practice field,

in the library, at school, and at a desk. We prepare for storms and

other disasters. We work to be financially prepared for the future.

Nathan’s parable set a trap that David walked right into—and in doing so,

he condemned himself. Believing the story about the rich man’s senseless

theft of the poor man’s beloved ewe lamb to be real, David was furious. As

a shepherd-turned-king, he knew both the value of sheep and the

injustice of such an act. He declared that the guilty man deserved to die

and should make fourfold restitution (2 Samuel 12:5–6). He even swore

by the name of the Lord, perhaps hoping to demonstrate his own

commitment to justice—or to ease his conscience by punishing someone

else’s greed.

Hospitality was a vital way of showing honor to guests in the world of the

Bible. It was expected that a host would do their best to serve and care for

visitors, especially when it came to food and shelter. This standard was

rooted in God’s own character. The children of Israel were instructed to

remember how God had provided for them during their time in Egyptian

exile and, in turn, to treat the “strangers” among them as honored guests

(Leviticus 19:34).

(2 Samuel 12:3, ESV)

In this verse, the poor man’s relationship with his one little female lamb

is described in deeply personal and emotional terms. The lamb was not

just livestock—it was like a member of the family. It grew up with him

and with his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and even lay

in his arms. The lamb was like a daughter to him.

This description is more than just a touching image—it’s part of Nathan’s

parable designed to awaken David’s conscience.

On more than one occasion, Jesus said, “You always have the poor with

you” (Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8). Throughout Scripture, we

see God’s consistent concern for those who are less fortunate. He built

debt-forgiveness into the Hebrew calendar (Deuteronomy 15:1–11). He

ensured that gleanings from the fields were left for the poor

(Deuteronomy 24:19–21). He cared for the widow and the orphan (Psalm

68:5). God deeply valued the vulnerable and expected His people to be

generous toward them.

Readers of 2 Samuel 12 have not forgotten David’s shameful actions. In

the previous chapter, King David forsook the soldiers under his command

(11:1), lusted after a married woman (11:2–3), committed adultery with

Bathsheba (11:4–5), and ordered Uriah, her husband, to be killed before

marrying her himself (11:6–27). What a scandal!

The powerful king did whatever he wanted and, based on the events

described in 2 Samuel 11:26–27, lived for nearly a year without any

obvious consequences.

Years ago, a man named Mark M. Jones asked this question in song. It

echoes Romans 14:12, “So then everyone of us shall give an account of

himself to God.” The words to the song are as follows:

Verse 1: Someday you’ll stand at the bar on high, someday your

record you’ll see; someday you’ll answer the question of life, what

will your answer be?

Our text today takes us again to the parable of the bridegroom and

the banquet. When we left the Biblical account yesterday, we saw

that the king was enraged that his guests arrived at the banquet

improperly dressed. In verse 12, one man was asked why he came to

the banquet dressed incorrectly. The man did not have an answer.

The king had the man bound hand and foot and cast into the street

during the night! That must have been frightening.