“David exploded with anger against the man and said to Natan, ‘As Adonai lives, the man who did this deserves to die! For doing such a thing, he has to pay back four times the value of the lamb — and also because he had no pity.”-Samuel 12:5-6
After hearing Natan’s story, David, in a rage, says the rich man must pay back 4 times the value of the lamb he took from the poor fellow.
The number 4 is not some random choice.
Here’s the Torah reference:
“If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he is to pay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.“-Exodus 21:37
So we see here, David is judging per the Torah.
But little did he know, the same Torah he was using to judge the rich man was about to judge him.
After David orders the 400% restitution, Natan lets him have it:
“You are that man,” he says.
I can imagine David’s face dropping and his heart sinking.
Boy, he sure didn’t see that one coming.
See, we’ve gotta understand that David was a man who had it all.
He had power, money, an abundance of beautiful wives and kids, and a gorgeous palace.
He also had the respect of an entire nation.
After all, he was the first king to unite all 12 tribes of Israel.
So the question that arises is…
What does it take to get the attention of someone like that?
Someone who thinks he’s above the law?
Turns out, sometimes the only thing that works…
Is the truth hitting you smack dab between the eyes!
And that’s exactly what happened to David.
Because here’s the thing:
The same Torah that David used to pass judgment turned around and judged him.
It’s a chilling reminder:
The higher you climb, the easier it is to think the rules don’t apply to you.
But with God, no one gets a free pass…
Not even a king.
David’s fall didn’t come because he didn’t know right from wrong.
It came because he somehow forgot the law applies to everyone…
Even the ones who write the rules and sit on thrones.
So here’s the takeaway:
Be careful when you point fingers.
The standard you use to judge others may be the very one God uses to measure you.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“For in the same way
you judge others,
you will be judged,
and with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you.”
-Matthew 7:2
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