Background and Context:
Nathan's confrontation with King David is a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, found in 2 Samuel 12:1-14. This event occurs after David's sin with Bathsheba and the arranged death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. David, the second king of Israel, is described as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), yet he falls into grave sin, demonstrating the vulnerability of even the most devout individuals to moral failure.

Nathan the Prophet:
Nathan was a prophet during the reign of King David and played a significant role in advising the king. He is first mentioned in 2 Samuel 7, where he delivers God's covenant promise to David regarding the establishment of his dynasty. Nathan's role as a prophet was to communicate God's will to the king and the people, often involving messages of both promise and rebuke.

The Parable of the Rich Man and the Poor Man:
In 2 Samuel 12:1-4, Nathan approaches David with a parable: "There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but he refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest."

David's Reaction:
Upon hearing the parable, David's sense of justice is kindled, and he reacts with anger: "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over" (2 Samuel 12:5-6). David's response reveals his understanding of justice and righteousness, yet he is unaware that he is condemning himself.

Nathan's Rebuke:
Nathan then delivers the piercing words, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). He proceeds to recount God's blessings upon David and the gravity of his sin: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why then have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own, for you killed him with the sword of the Ammonites" (2 Samuel 12:7-9).

Consequences and Repentance:
Nathan declares the consequences of David's actions: "Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own" (2 Samuel 12:10). Despite the severity of the judgment, David's response is one of repentance: "I have sinned against the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:13). Nathan assures David that the LORD has taken away his sin, but the child born to Bathsheba will die as a result of David's actions.

Theological Significance:
Nathan's confrontation with David underscores the themes of sin, repentance, and divine justice. It highlights the role of the prophet as God's mouthpiece, calling even the most powerful to account. The narrative demonstrates that no one is above God's law and that true repentance involves acknowledging one's sin and accepting the consequences. David's repentance, though sincere, does not exempt him from the repercussions of his actions, illustrating the principle that while God forgives, the temporal consequences of sin may still unfold.