"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Day 81 - (Today’s Bible readings 2 Samuel 12:1-23; Psalm 77; 1 Timothy 6:11-21)
YOU’RE THE MAN
'Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12:7&13 ESV)
“You’re the man” is a phrase “used to praise a person who has done something well.” (Cambridge Dictionary) A ball player hits the winning run, and his teammates may exclaim, “You’re the man.” Or a guy helps an elderly lady pick up her groceries when her bag brakes in the parking lot, and a passerby declares, “You’re the man.” When you hear these words, it is generally for something good.
“You are the man,” declares Nathan the prophet. And there was not anything good in his words at all. David had committed the sins of idleness, lust, adultery, cover-up, and murder. Nathan tells David a story portraying a huge miscarriage of justice, and David reacts with just indignation and condemnation. Nathan looks his king in the eyes and with godly accusation declares... “You are the man.”
After Nathan outlines the consequences of his sin, David admits his guilt. “I have sinned against the Lord.”
And now the good news: And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”
What sins would be behind “you are the man” if these words were directed at you? Whatever they may be, you can rest assured that God wants to forgive you just as He forgave David.
The hymn writer provides this perfect prayer as you respond to being declared “the man.”
With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
In Jesus’ saving name. Amen (“Come, My Soul, with Ev'ry Care,” LSB 779)
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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