Text: 2 Samuel 12:1-7
(1) And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. (2) The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: (3) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. (4) And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. (5) And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: (6) And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. (7) And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man…”
“Thou art the Man…”
Not Guilty[1]
God’s forgiveness is the remedy for your guilt.
Your sincere obedience to His plan is how you find forgiveness.
“Guilty,” was the loud accusation that sprang from the lips of a woman on the corner of a busy intersection.
People looked towards the voice and say her repeat that accusation, “GUILTY,” while pointing her finger at those who passed her.
Inevitably, the accused would look at her, put their head down and walk quickly to the other side of the road.
We have an accuser of the brethren.
We are often our own worst accusers.
Sometimes the guilt feelings are legitimate, but you don’t have to be guilty to feel guilty.
In our text tonight, David was definitely guilty
– tell the story of Uriah the Hittite and Bathsheba –
What are you guilty of doing, seeing, saying, thinking, silencing?
Nathan, the prophet, came to David and declared to him, “Thou art the man.”
We need a “thou art the man” moment.
If forgiveness is the greatest builder of lives then guilt has to be the most destructive demolisher.
Guilt weights people down – Forgiveness lift people up
One day, a group of indignant “righteous” men dragged a woman to Jesus, pointing their fingers at her in moral outrage and mortal accusation.
Her immorality, they said, demanded her public execution.
Jesus – Our Jesus – did not join them in pointing His finger at her. Instead, he pointed his finger to the ground and wrote on it.
The accusers and the accused were standing on the dust of the earth, the common dirt of their shared humanity, and Jesus said unto them:
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”[2]
One by one, beginning with the eldest among them, her accusers hung their heads and walked away.
“Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” he then asked her. “No sir” she replied. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more,” said Jesus.[3] [4]
Preacher, I’m guilty…how can I get to the place where I’m Not Guilty?
Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
“When God forgives He forgets. He buries our sins in the sea and puts a sign on the bank saying, ‘No Fishing Allowed.’”[5]
[1] SOURCE: Carlton L. Coon Sr. (2003). Master-FULL Preaching. Truth Publications.
[2] John 8:7
[3] John 8:10-11
[4] Ronald W. Nikkel. (2013). By Pointed Fingers. https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2013/02/by-pointed-fingers/. Accessed: 11/18/2025.
[5] Corrie Ten Boom
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 