Dateline: To Catch a King

I must confess that I have watched most of the “Dateline: To Catch a Predator” shows that have been on recently. It has the quality of a natural disaster or train wreck: it is very difficult to look away, while being repulsed at the same time.

It definitely makes us aware that we live in a sick and fallen world full of sick and fallen people who have allowed Satan control of their lives and who live only for self and pleasure, even perverted pleasure.

But there is another reason I watch the show and will continue to. I am learning about sin and human nature. When the Dateline guy comes out, I am always interested in the reaction of the perps. They start out acting like nothing is wrong. They play it cool. When they realize they are on TV, some crack, some leave, some keep up the façade of innocence. Sadly, no one believes them at any point, but they keep trying to deceive. Finally, while being interview by the police in hand-cuffs, reality sinks in. Even then, some don’t accept responsibility for their actions.

“I wasn’t going to do anything.” We know that is a lie, or at best a person who is so deep in sin that they have totally deceived themselves. Maybe, some of them believe their own lie.

While watching this train wreck, I kept thinking about King David. Is it wrong to compare these men to the great Hebrew King? Which men on Dateline are the most sickening? The ones who have power and influence: the rabbi, the doctor. King David had lots of power and influence. Maybe he didn’t do something inappropriate with children but he did commit the triple whammy of adultery/murder/deception. And he kept on living the lie.

It took a prophet, playing the role of Chris Hanson, who calls David out by first telling a story. It should have sounded familiar but David was so deep in sin that it did not. In hypocrisy, he angrily condemned the evil thief in the parable. Then the moment came:


“You are the man!” I wish I knew how Nathan said that phrase. Loudly, humbly, angrily, disgusted? David, though, was a godly man.

When confronted with his sins, though not in the national spotlight, his heart broke. “I have sinned against the Lord.” He cried out to God. He repented. He didn’t make excuses or try to continue the lie. He could have killed Nathan, if he wanted.

What do you do when you are busted? You may not be an internet predator, but you sin. You have sin that no one knows about. How far do you go to cover it up? And why are you waiting until you are caught? It may be on TV.