My Sunday school teachers were planning their lesson on Zacchaeus this week. I went to look at my Bible to see what notes I had scribbled in there from years past.
I had a note that said “four-fold restoration - David.”
Sometimes the me of years past should have taken more comprehensive notes. I searched the phrase “fourfold” and discovered it was only used twice in the entire Bible. In Luke 19:8 when Zacchaeus says, “And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
And in 2 Samuel 12:6 when David says, “and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
David says this in response to a story the prophet Nathan has just told him about a rich man with lots of sheep who stole one little ewe lamb from a poor farmer nearby.
But David fails to realize that Nathan is not talking about sheep. Nathan is talking about a very particular rich man who stole another man’s wife. Nathan is talking about David himself.
What’s interesting is that David is not speaking in hyperbole when he proclaims this punishment. He is actually following the Law to the letter:
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep” (Exodus 22:1).
Restoring the sheep fourfold is exactly what should happen. But Nathan is talking about something far worse than stealing a sheep. The punishment for which is death.
I see a parallel between Nathan-David and Jesus-Zacchaeus. The Lord sends Nathan. The Lord sends Jesus. David is a rich man. Zacchaeus is a rich man. Nathan goes to David’s house. Jesus goes to Zacchaeus’ house. Nathan’s presence brings David to repentance. Jesus’ presence brings Zacchaeus to repentance. David is lost. Nathan seeks to save him from his utter scorn of the Lord.
The difference between David and Zacchaeus seems to be that David almost needs to be tricked into convicting himself. Zacchaeus is transformed by Jesus with nothing other than Jesus going to house.
Sometimes in our lives we need our sin pointed out to us because we are living in a delusion, thinking we are untouchable. Other times, we are all to aware of our sin and the brokenness it has caused all around us.
David needs to be called out for his abuse. Zacchaeus knows his life isn’t what it should be. He does not need to be told what to do. He just needs someone to notice him, to sit with him for a minute, to love him.
In our world, there are plenty of examples of power-abusers that need someone to call them out on their sin. They need to be rebuked. Sadly, there are few Nathans being listened to.
But more often, I find there are lots of Zacchaeuses. They are broken and stuck in that brokenness, and they need gentleness and compassion and just a little bit of space and time to be sought and found.
David is lost, but pretending all is well. Zacchaeus is lost and wandering and desperately searching for someone to show him the way.
Thanks for reading.
Be Curious. Ask Questions.
Andy
p.s. My book, Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible is on sale for 30% off right now. Check it out here with the code spring24.