Despite his horrid actions here, the picture of David which emerges from the narratives and his own writing (e.g., Psalms) is of a man of compassion and sensitivity. Nathan knew how to reach his commander; he spoke his language. Similarly, chaplains need to come to know the language of the commanders they serve. The better the chaplain knows his commander, the more effective he will be at gaining the commander’s trust and serving as an advisor. This can take a significant amount of time and investment.