THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
What about the ruler? Believing he was judging another, he quickly issued a verdict. Such is the nature of humanity; people are so quick to judge others. And what did David declare? “The Lord lives! The one who lives deserves to die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold.”
What follows? The king, filled with rage, believed he was dealing with the case of another. He was infuriated and pronounced a rightful sentence with great conviction. In this instance, bias did not cloud his judgment. He declared that the guilty party should perish by the sword and compensate the victim fourfold (Ex. 22). The king’s decree is even more severe than the law, which mandates a quadruple restitution for theft.
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However, he goes beyond the letter of the law: he commands that the thief be executed and repay the sheep four times over.
Upon hearing this, King David, despite his transgression, did not lose his sense of justice; for while sin is the act of the body, righteousness belongs to the soul. He responded with indignation, asserting, “The Lord lives! The man who has done this is deserving of death; he must repay the sheep fourfold.” David’s judgment surpasses the legal requirement: while the law demands a fourfold restitution, he insists on a sevenfold repayment (Psalms 78:12).
Such is the tendency of men! Quick to deliver judgments against others. What does David assert? “The Lord lives! Such a man is deserving of death, and he must repay fourfold for the sheep.” And what of Nathan? He did not delay in addressing the wound; he swiftly exposed it to ensure it was not lessened in its severity. “You are the man, O king” (2 Kings 12:7). How did the king respond? “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Kings 12:13). He did not challenge Nathan's authority by asking, “Who are you to rebuke me? Who sent you to speak with such freedom? How dare you?” Instead, he acknowledged his sin with humility. What did he confess? “I have sinned against the Lord.”
And what was Nathan’s response? “The Lord has removed your sin from you” (2 Samuel 12:13). You have judged yourself; I grant you pardon; you have wisely confessed and sought reconciliation for your sin; you have condemned yourself, therefore I revoke your sentence. You have witnessed the fulfillment of the scripture, “You shall declare your sins first, so that you may be justified” (Isaiah 43:26). How difficult it is to be the first to confess one's transgressions!