What is a Metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis of Narcissus
by Gala Salvador / Salvador Dali 1937

What is a Metamorphosis?

In today's Lectioary lesson, we look at the taking of Uriah's wife by King David from the book of II Samuel.

An event that could be easily interpreted as narcissistic of David, it is Nathan that confronts David's self-absorbtion and turns it into transforming self-awareness for the King.

In true metamorphic fashion, David repents and is forgiven. But his actions have lasting consequences for his family.

How does true metamorphosis come to our lives? Where does it start? How does it affect our relationships with others? These are the questions we will look at in our lesson today. We will also relate the image by Gala Salvador above in our discussion.

The scripture is from II Samuel
11:26-12:10, 13-15



11:26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him.


11:27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,


12:1 and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

12:2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds;


12:3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.


12:4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him."


12:5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die;


12:6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."


12:7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul;


12:8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more.


12:9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.


12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.


12:13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned aginst the LORD." Nathan said to David,"Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.


12:14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die."


12:15 Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill

Walter Morton for Journey Across the Line