Ver. 1. And the Lord sent Nathan unto David.] He must be of God’s sending, that shall effectually awaken conscience, and speak to the heart. Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 7:2) -a man so highly esteemed by David, that he called one of his sons by his name (say some), made him tutor to his son Solomon, and had him of his Cabinet Council (1 Kings 1) -is here purposely sent to let good David feel the bruise of his fall; to be unto him as Paul’s sister’s son was to the chief captain; as the cock, or rather as Christ’s look, was to Peter; to arouse him out of that dead lethargy wherein he had lain for three quarters of a year together; and to convert him from the error of his way. If God’s best children have been sometimes suffered to sleep in sin, at last he hath awakened them in a fright. Now because men that are awakened hastily out of a deep and sweet sleep are apt to take it ill, and to brawl with their best friends, wise Nathan, non aperte, sed per ambages, beginneth his reproof, not in plain terms, but by fetching about a form of speech—as she saith, 2 Samuel 14:20; by an allegory or apologue, he first fisheth out of David what the law was, and then forceth him to pronounce sentence of death against himself. David was a prophet, yet needed he a prophet to be sent unto him; as one physician to another; but the sound to the sick, as Chrysostom saith. And he came unto him] In conclave Davidis, into David’s closet; for whereas some have thought that Nathan dealt now with David in the hearing of his courtiers and captains, it is more likely that he did it privately, that he might the more easily work and win upon him. Hitherto all the king’s care had been to conceal his sin from the world, -which yet he could not do with all his skill, for the enemies had got it by the end, (2 Samuel 14) -and although his conscience had galled him betwixt whiles, when he heard the lectures of the law, and groaned under a great fit of sickness, as some gather from Psalms 32:3,4 Ps 6 Ps 38, yet he turned the deaf ear, and continued in the hardness of his heart till the prophet came home to him, and dealt plainly and privately with him. Great is the benefit of conference and private admonition. Luther was much helped this way by Staupicius; Galeacius by Peter Martyr; Junius by a countryman of his not far from Florence; Senarclaeus by John Diazins; Latimer by blessed St Bilney, as he styleth him; Dr Taylor by that angel of God, John Bradford, who counted that hour lost wherein he had not done some good with his hand, pen, or tongue. Private admonition, saith one, is the pastor’s privy purse, as princes have theirs, besides their public disbursements. It repented good Mr Hiron, and troubled him on his death bed, that he had been so backward to it, and barren of it. There were two men in one city.] By this pretty parable, Nathan maketh David self-condemned, or ever he was aware; and useth his own tongue as a lance to rip up and heal his own heart. Velut prudens medicus ferrum tegebat. -Aug. Ut secantem gladium sentiret aeger antequam cerneret. -Greg. Tanquam medicus ad medicum, sed sanus ad aegrotum. -Chrys. Aug., Hom. 21.
Ver. 2. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds.] The greater was his sin, since pressed with no necessity. What need had the angels to leave their first estate and habitation? (Jude 1:6) What need had Adam to reach after a deity? What need had Ahab to covet Naboth’s vineyard? &c. It is no small aggravation of a man’s sin to fall into it without a strong temptation; to be led to it with a wet finger, as we say.
Ver. 3. But the poor man.] Poor Uriah; poor in comparison of David, who had all that heart could wish. Save one little ewe lamb.] This was his Bathsheba, he had no more wives but her: as Isaac never had more than Rebecca, whom therefore he loved tenderly and entirely. And it grew up together with him, and with his children.] Which he had by a former wife, as some think. It did eat of his own meat.] Heb., Morsel; he spared it out of his own belly for his favoured lamb; neither was anything good to him, whereof his wife had not part. And lay in his bosom.] Where he nourished and cherished her, (Ephesians 5:29) as the hen doth her chickens, or as the cock pigeon doth the eggs. And was unto him as a daughter.] Yea, much dearer. The greater was her disloyalty against so loving a husband, and so gallant a man: the more heinous also was David’s offence in wronging and robbing him of such an only jewel.
Ver. 4. And there came a traveller.] This was the devil, say some, whom David feasted by abusing Bathsheba; and indeed he is a great traveller and trudge-over-the-world. (Job 1:7 1 Peter 5:8) Others—and better—understand it of fleshly lust, which beareth the name of the mother, called in general concupiscence or corruption; this to good David was but a stranger, and not a home dweller: and it must be our care, that though corruption enter, it may not be entertained—“How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?” (Jeremiah 4:14) -lest the traveller become the man of the house, lest the Lurdan (Lord-Dane) play rex in the soul. And he spared to take of his own flock.] While Nathan was querulously discoursing of the cruel rich man, how he spared to take of his own flock, &c., how willingly doth David listen to the story, and how sharply—even above law—doth he censure the fact! But took the poor man’s lamb.] So sweet are stolen waters, and so pleasant is bread of secrecies, or eaten in hugger-mugger. (Proverbs 9:17) “ Quod licet ingratum est, quod non licet acrius urit: Sic interdietis imminet roger aquis.’’—Ovid. And dressed it for the man that was come to him.] This was for lack of true charity, doubtless, which biddeth a man to make bold with his own, and not to meddle with others’ goods. Nevertheless that saying of Gul. Parisiensis hath a great deal of truth in it, Charitas est fur fidelissimus et innocentissimus: quia omnia bona proximoram sua facit, neque tamen illi adimit. Charity is a most faithful and most innocent thief: for why? it maketh all another man’s good its own, without taking anything away from him.