“David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’” 2 Samuel 12:13
David was a hero. In only a few years, this national idol went from shepherd boy to giant killer to king. David had everything, and in spite of the pomp and pageantry, he was an upright and honorable man. But one day that all came crashing down. In a moment of weakness, David opened his heart to covetousness, adultery, lies, and murder. David had let down everyone who believed in him. He sinned against the very one who had chosen him. His secret sin on earth had become an open scandal in heaven. How the Lord must have grieved over his specially chosen child. Is it any wonder that David was filled with the pains of guilt?
David could have blamed his actions on dysfunctional upbringing, a scarred childhood, or the culture of Jerusalem, but he didn’t. David placed the blame on himself, and then he took it all to his heavenly Father. David learned that personal sins can lead down some very tough roads. For God’s child, the only way out of Satan’s death trap is repentance, confession, and pleading to God for mercy and forgiveness. David wrote the textbook in Psalm 51!
This psalm is a remarkable example of dealing with personal sin and serves as a faithful pattern for us. The prayer begins by calling on God’s compassion and love as he asks for cleansing: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (verses 1,2). Then he confesses his sin: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (verses 3,4). He continues by asking God to cleanse his sinful heart: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (verses 7-12). He closes by promising to serve the Lord once again as a renewed child: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (verse 13).
Hiding behind the veil of sin never ends well for the Christian. David teaches us how to deal with it at the foot of the cross. There we will find cleansing and renewing of our spirits.
Take a moment to confess your sins to God and ask for his forgiveness.
If God didn’t forgive sinners,
heaven would be empty!
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