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Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

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This week we are delving into the topic of godly companionship by looking at the different things that make up true godly companionship. So far this week, we are delving into the topic of godly companionship by looking at the different things that make up true godly companionship. So far this week, we have talked about how godly companionship is present and sacrificial. Today we're going to cover this. Godly companionship is uncomfortable. Godly companionship is uncomfortable. We're going to look at one of my favorite, albeit uncomfortable, stories in the entire Old Testament. We'll be in 2 Samuel 12, but before we read that, if we go back to 2 Samuel 11, we see the famous description of King David and Bathsheba. Just to remind you of David's depravity, when he should have been with his men at war, he was on the roof of his palace where he conveniently notices a good-looking young woman named Bathsheba bathing naked on her roof. He summons her to his private chambers where he has sex with her. He ends up getting her pregnant and, in order to cover up his treacherous adultery, he essentially ends up having Bathsheba's husband, uriah, murdered. So yeah, that's the great King David. So let's pick up the narrative in 2 Samuel 12, verse 1. And the Lord sent Nathan to David up the narrative in 2 Samuel 12, verse 1. And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him there were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought, and he brought it up and it grew up with him and with his children. He used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guests who had come to him. But he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him. Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man and he said to Nathan as the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die and he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he has no pity. Nathan said to David you are the man.

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Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel. I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul, and I gave you your master's house and your master's wives in your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the Lord Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of the sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun. David said to Nathan I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David the Lord has also put away your sin. You shall not die. Nevertheless, because of this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord. The child who is born to you shall die. Then Nathan went to his house. So this is probably one of the most intense and best gotcha moments, not just in the Bible but perhaps in all of history.

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Nathan is a prophet and a very trusted spiritual advisor to King David. He essentially was there to be the spiritual guardrails for the king, if you will. And with that comes a lot of experience with the king and a tremendous amount of influence over the king, if you will. And with that comes a lot of experience with the king and a tremendous amount of influence over the king. But in this situation Nathan rightly assumes that it would not be prudent to directly criticize the actions of the king. He has to take a more circuitous route to rebuke.

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Nathan knows the personality of King David. He knows what it will take to rile him up. He lays a trap for him and King David falls right into it. And had he not done so, we cannot be sure that King David would have recognized the error of his ways. Luckily for King David, he did recognize his error. He acknowledges as much in verse 13 when he admits I have sinned against the Lord. So here's something for you to consider today. Do you have a Nathan in your life. Do you have a man or men that know enough about you that they are able and willing to rebuke you for your sinful actions? Or are you just surrounded by a bunch of dudes that ignore when you've strayed off the path or they're just too scared to tactfully confront you? Keep that in mind today. We'll pull more on that thread tomorrow.

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Thank you for listening to today's episode Before you go. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp. Share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.