There are untouchables.\u00a0 People and people groups that are above reproach.\u00a0 No matter what happens, we can never call these groups to account for what they have done.\u00a0
The Jewish people have often been persecuted.\u00a0 The holocaust and genocide are concepts linked in the minds of the people of earth.\u00a0 The holocaust was a genocide.\u00a0 Genocides are like the holocaust.\u00a0 Most people accept that the holocaust happened, and the majority of people would say that it was a bad thing in the history of the world.\u00a0
The Jewish people were persecuted and murdered by the Roman Empire around the first century.\u00a0 They were taken captive by the Babylonians.\u00a0 They became a nation as slaves in Egypt.\u00a0 Somehow, they have managed to survive 4+ millenia of persecution and found themselves once again facing destruction at the hands of yet another empire during the 30\u2019s and 40\u2019s.\u00a0
In a sense, the Jewish people have become untouchable.\u00a0 They are above reproach.\u00a0 I know that I was taught to believe that the Jews were God\u2019s chosen people and as such they must be revered and protected.\u00a0 They must have a homeland, they\u2019ve been blessed by God and to position yourself against the actions of Israel is to position yourself against God and his works.\u00a0
The older I grow, the more willing I am to admit that I am a person who is full of contradictions.\u00a0 I am a person who has changed my mind, and will likely continue to change my mind.\u00a0 You could argue that I am a rudderless ship, or a blind person stumbling in the darkness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do I believe that the Jewish people were chosen by God and exist today because of his protection?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0
Do I believe that the favor of God means you are above reproach?\u00a0 No.\u00a0
The Bible speaks of David the son of Jesse as being a man after God\u2019s own heart.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 The little shepherd who was left behind when his brothers went to war.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 Who slew the giant Goliath when all others feared to even try.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 The musician who\u2019s skilled playing calmed the king of Israel during fits of rage.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 The boy who married the daughter of the king of Israel for a bloody price.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 The same boy who grew up to become the future king\u2019s best friend.\u00a0 David. Who mourned the death of the king that had called for his death, and the death of his son.\u00a0 David.\u00a0 Who became the 2nd king of Israel. \u00a0 \u00a0
David lead the people of Israel successfully for many years.\u00a0 He encouraged them to worship God.\u00a0 His heart\u2019s desire was to see a home built for his people, and for his God.\u00a0 He bemoaned living in a palace while his God was still in the tent built for him as they crossed the wilderness into the promised land.\u00a0 David the king was still a man after God\u2019s own heart.\u00a0 David the king clearly had the favor of God, and was loved by many.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
King David was so loved, that the strong men of Israel, instead of setting themselves against him and his efforts to be king, instead fell under his will, and were known as David\u2019s mighty men.\u00a0 Those men who could have been squabbling or battling to take their place as leader of the kingdom instead humbled themselves to be servants of the king.\u00a0
King David was a man who had it all, and had the blessing of God on his life.\u00a0 He had wives, children, money, property, and faithful servants.\u00a0 Who could deny him what he wanted?\u00a0 A king is untouchable.\u00a0 His rule is law.\u00a0 Anything goes and don\u2019t you dare stand in the king\u2019s way or you will feel the weight of the kingdom brought against you.
The day came when all that David had was not enough.\u00a0 He was not satisfied.\u00a0 He took the wife of one of his mighty men, slept with her, and then murdered her husband, Uriah.\u00a0 Uriah died on the battlefield, fighting for his king as the king\u2019s commanders withdrew the men supporting Uriah.\u00a0
The king was untouchable.\u00a0 What could anyone do?\u00a0
Nathan was a prophet who listened to the voice of God.\u00a0 God told him that David had done wrong, and that David needed to repent.\u00a0 Everything in the life of David seemed to indicate that he had God\u2019s favor.\u00a0 He was still a man after God\u2019s own heart in the eyes of his people.\u00a0 Nathan found himself speaking against the king, alone.\u00a0 Nathan likely fully believed he would be killed for his message, but he knew that when he heard the voice of God, he had no choice but to speak the truth.\u00a0
The message Nathan had for David was thus.\u00a0
\u201cAnd the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, \u201cThere were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.\u00a0 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought.
\u00a0And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.\u00a0 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 guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David was furious at the rich man who, while having plenty, instead took from the poor man. When Nathan revealed that David himself was the rich man stealing from the poor man, David\u2019s heart broke. He was caught. He was in the wrong. He sought God\u2019s forgiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world needs Nathan\u2019s. The world needs people who listen to God\u2019s voice and who are not afraid to tell even God\u2019s chosen that they are doing wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I pray that we understand that no one is untouchable. I pray that we understand that a past filled with righteous deeds does not negate present sin. I pray that we open our hearts to the poor man whose children are dying, and that we stand up for them in whatever ways we can. <\/p>\n