The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute

Regardless of the reason, we’ve all experienced drowsiness. In the US, we

live in a caffeine-dependent culture. Many of us spend our days feeling

more like zombies than functioning human beings. Some of us can also

slip into laziness and complacency, while allowing ourselves to feel

lethargic and drained too often.

Could this affect us spiritually?

It seems so…

Can you hear them? They’re troubling, and often terrifying words:

“I’m too late.”

“You’re too late.”

“Too late.”

Too late to help someone.

Too late to see a dying loved one.

Too late to catch your friend before they leave town.

Too late to mend a broken relationship.

Just…too late.

The five sensible virgins brought spare oil with them in flasks, but the

other five foolishly neglected to bring enough. They were caught with

their lamps running out of oil at the very moment they needed it most, at

the arrival of the bridegroom!

Weddings are important occasions! They typically involve multiple

traditions, and each culture relies on its own sentimental customs. This

parable from Jesus contains some customs that may sound strange to our

Western ears. However, aspects like bridesmaids waiting on the groom,

his arrival in the middle of the night, and the announcement of his

coming are drawn from real Ancient Near Eastern practices.

“Are you ready?”

Parents pose this question to their children, often daily. The coach

ensures his star pitcher is ready to stand at the mound. Skydivers

are quizzed as they are about to leap out of an aircraft.

There are many moments in life when being ready significantly

matters. We spend countless hours preparing on the practice field,

in the library, at school, and at a desk. We prepare for storms and

other disasters. We work to be financially prepared for the future.

Nathan’s parable set a trap that David walked right into—and in doing so,

he condemned himself. Believing the story about the rich man’s senseless

theft of the poor man’s beloved ewe lamb to be real, David was furious. As

a shepherd-turned-king, he knew both the value of sheep and the

injustice of such an act. He declared that the guilty man deserved to die

and should make fourfold restitution (2 Samuel 12:5–6). He even swore

by the name of the Lord, perhaps hoping to demonstrate his own

commitment to justice—or to ease his conscience by punishing someone

else’s greed.

Hospitality was a vital way of showing honor to guests in the world of the

Bible. It was expected that a host would do their best to serve and care for

visitors, especially when it came to food and shelter. This standard was

rooted in God’s own character. The children of Israel were instructed to

remember how God had provided for them during their time in Egyptian

exile and, in turn, to treat the “strangers” among them as honored guests

(Leviticus 19:34).

 (2 Samuel 12:3, ESV)

In this verse, the poor man’s relationship with his one little female lamb

is described in deeply personal and emotional terms. The lamb was not

just livestock—it was like a member of the family. It grew up with him

and with his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and even lay

in his arms. The lamb was like a daughter to him.

This description is more than just a touching image—it’s part of Nathan’s

parable designed to awaken David’s conscience.

On more than one occasion, Jesus said, “You always have the poor with

you” (Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8). Throughout Scripture, we

see God’s consistent concern for those who are less fortunate. He built

debt-forgiveness into the Hebrew calendar (Deuteronomy 15:1–11). He

ensured that gleanings from the fields were left for the poor

(Deuteronomy 24:19–21). He cared for the widow and the orphan (Psalm

68:5). God deeply valued the vulnerable and expected His people to be

generous toward them.

Readers of 2 Samuel 12 have not forgotten David’s shameful actions. In

the previous chapter, King David forsook the soldiers under his command

(11:1), lusted after a married woman (11:2–3), committed adultery with

Bathsheba (11:4–5), and ordered Uriah, her husband, to be killed before

marrying her himself (11:6–27). What a scandal!

The powerful king did whatever he wanted and, based on the events

described in 2 Samuel 11:26–27, lived for nearly a year without any

obvious consequences.