Rebuke (Nathan and David)

A real brotherhood includes the components of love, service, encouragement, and yes.. rebuke.

Let me say that to be a candidate for offering a rebuke, you generally need to be guilty of love, service, and encouragement. Because without these, the rebuke will not be received well. Additionally, without the commitment to helping a person make the necessary changes the rebuke/repentance requires, you will only be offering condemnation.

The kind of rebuke we are taling about tonight is rarely done and I’d prefer to use the term “carefronting”. Because you rebuke someone because you love them and you care enough to confront them.

The kind of rebuke we are taling about tonight is rarely done and I’d prefer to use the term “carefronting”. Because you rebuke someone because you love them and you care enough to confront them.

Nathan was a person committed to David’s personal growth and shared life with him including some of the most important life events: his dreams and ambitions, his sin and into carefrontation, living through judgment from the LORD/trials and tribulations, and being committed to his continued legacy through his son Solomon.

David was blessed to have this man in his life.

Proverbs 24:6 ESV

for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Nathan knew that David could order him killed like Uriah, but was more concerned about David’s soul, than David’s wrath. We must be like Nathan and rebuke our brothers and sisters when they are heading in the wrong direction.

English Standard Version Chapter 24

24  Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”

will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

25  but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

26  Whoever gives an honest answer

kisses the lips.

English Standard Version Chapter 24

11  Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

12  If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

English Standard Version Chapter 5

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

What did David do? Not do?

What did Nathan do? Not do?

What did God do? Not do?

when sinned against.

English Standard Version Chapter 18

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Paul and Peter

Galatians 2:11 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

G

English Standard Version Chapter 5

5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

1 Timothy 5:20

20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

2 Timothy 4:2

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Titus 1:9

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Titus 1:13

13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

Titus 2:15

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

2 Peter 2:16

16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.