Nathan the Prophet Counsels David

Samuel died before David began to reign. But David was not left without divinely inspired advisers in the administration of his government. After setting in order the affairs of the kingdom, David came to Nathan the prophet with a proposal to build a house, or temple, for the Lord—a place for the services of the sanctuary. As the king spoke of his generous plan, it seemed good, and the prophet encouraged him to do all that was in his heart. But that night a message came to Nathan from the Lord, directing the prophet to tell David that he was not to build the house, though he might make preparation for the building, which would be erected by his son Solomon. David accepted the message, and carried out the instruction. (See 2 Samuel 7.)AGP 79.2

To this same prophet was committed a more painful duty that often constitutes an important part of the prophetic office. Following a divine revelation of David’s double crime of adultery and murder, Nathan was sent with a message of stern, but tender, rebuke to the royal sinner. He brought into broad daylight that which David thought to keep secret, and he told of the divine penalty that was to follow. Bitter and sincere was David’s repentance of his grievous sin. Though the heavy punishment followed, yet he bowed his head and bent his back to the strokes, without resentment either against the Lord or against His prophet. (See 2 Samuel 12.)AGP 79.3

“The part,” says one, “which Nathan took against David shows how effective was the check exerted by the prophets;AGP 79.4

indeed, most of the prophetic history is history of the noblest opposition ever made against vices alike of royalty, priesthood, and people.”AGP 80.1

With the view of increasing his army and extending his conquests, David directed his officers to go through the tribes and number the people. The motives back of the king’s ambitious project were wrong, and another prophet—Gad—was commissioned to bear the Lord’s rebuke, and to announce the penalty. Replying to the prophet’s message, “David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for His mercies are great.” 2 Samuel 24:14.AGP 80.2

At the close of his long reign, we see the faithful prophet Nathan standing by him in his feebleness, and guiding him in arranging for Solomon to succeed him as king. (See 1 Kings 1:22-42.)AGP 80.3

These incidents reveal the practical working of the prophetic gift during the reign of David, and the powerful, guiding, saving influence of that gift with Israel’s second king. From the time of his anointing to the close of his life he was favored with the presence and distinction of inspired prophets—a wonderful leadership which he greatly appreciated and gladly followed.AGP 80.4