Thou Art the Man

June 22-28: 2 Samuel 12:1-13

To David King of Israel

The prophet came to dwell,

As sent forth by the Lord on high

To teach him by a tale:

Within a city two men dwelt

One rich, the other poor,

The rich man had both flocks and herds

Abundance, wealth and more.

Not so the poor man, for instead

His only wealth was measured,

By a single solitary lamb

A ewe he dearly treasured.

And when a traveler journeyed as

A guest to him of wealth,

The rich man with his flocks and herds

Took not from his own self.

Instead he said within his heart,

"I'll take not what is mine,

But take instead the poor man's ewe

And give my guest to dine."

Then David cried, "This man shall die!"

As hot his anger ran,

And Nathan's words pierced David's soul,

"Oh king, thou art the man."

For God in His great goodness gives

But if we aren't content,

How quickly we may fall from grace

And in our sin lament.

© Julianne Young 2026

Photo by Sandie Clarke on Unsplash