Nathan

Nathan served as court prophet during David's reign and into Solomon's, delivering some of Scripture's most significant prophecies and confrontations. Through Nathan, God revealed the Davidic covenant—the unconditional promise that David's throne would be established forever, finding ultimate fulfillment in Christ, 'great David's greater Son.'

When David desired to build God a house, Nathan initially approved but was corrected by divine revelation: God would instead build David a house (dynasty), promising that his seed would establish an eternal kingdom. This prophecy (2 Samuel 7) forms the theological foundation for Messianic expectation.

Nathan's most dramatic moment came after David's adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. Through the parable of the rich man who stole a poor man's lamb, Nathan drew David into pronouncing his own judgment before declaring, 'Thou art the man!' His courageous confrontation of royal sin exemplifies prophetic boldness in speaking truth to power. Nathan also played a crucial role in securing Solomon's succession, informing Bathsheba of Adonijah's coup and orchestrating the actions that placed Solomon on the throne before David's death.Nathan's parable technique—leading the hearer to condemn himself before revealing application—demonstrates sophisticated prophetic methodology. David's response to Nathan's accusation—immediate confession rather than defensive anger—reveals his heart, explaining why Scripture calls him 'a man after God's own heart' despite his grievous sin. Chronicles credits Nathan with writing portions of royal history (1 Chronicles 29:29, 2 Chronicles 9:29), though these works have not survived.