FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Respond Humbly to Correction

David and Bath-sheba—Part 2

Instructions: Do this exercise in a quiet place. As you read the scriptures, imagine
that you are a bystander watching the events. Picture the scene. Hear the voices.
Feel the emotions of the characters. Let the account come to life.
Main characters: David and Nathan
Summary: David is forgiven for a grievous sin but must face the serious consequences.

1 THINK ABOUT THE SCENE.—READ 2 SAMUEL 12:1-24.

Describe Nathan’s disposition, as you imagine it to be. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What tone do you “hear” in Nathan’s voice as he gives the illustration about the poor
man and the lamb? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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What change of tone do you sense as Nathan drives home the point of his illustration
in verses 7-9? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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2 DIG DEEPER.
Why might it have taken much forethought on Nathan’s part to confront David?
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Why, do you think, did Nathan use this illustration to reason with David? ______________________________________________________________________

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How did Nathan appeal to David’s sense of what is right, and why was that approach
more effective than simply trying to force David to confess? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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It may seem that Jehovah quickly forgave David. (Reread verse 13.) But what can
Jehovah see in people that we cannot? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Why, do you think, were the consequences that David would experience only fair?
(Reread verses 10-12, 14.) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 3 APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED.
Write down what you learned about . . .
The need for humility. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The consequences of sin. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Jehovah’s mercy. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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4 ASK YOURSELF.
In what situations have I received counsel
or reproof? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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In what ways can I improve in my response

to correction? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Why is counsel or reproof an indication of

Jehovah’s love? (CLUE: Read Hebrews 12:5, 6.)
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What lesson from this account is most meaningful

to me, and why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Suggestion: Imagine a different ending. Write

about what might have happened if David had
denied his wrong and even sought to punish
Nathan. How might this have affected Jehovah’s
judgment of David?

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