David knew it and felt it deep inside his heart as soon as the words from Nathan’s story penetrated his conscious, troubled mind.  He had to finally give up neglecting and covering up his sin and admit his sin out loud to his most trusted, wise Godly advisor. David’s sin was not only against the Bathsheba, her husband and their family; it was ultimately and undeniably against God. David had pursed God and had desired the heart of God all his life; until the temptation was presented in a quiet moment and he fell for evil. 

A distraught David writes this very personal song of repentance to One and Only who can truly forgive him completely and restore his broken relationship with God.  As we who have all fallen for evil and sinned against God read the words we feel his regret and sorrow as one who adamantly wants to renew his pursuit of God.  It is God who will give David the strength to live with the consequences his sin later while forgiving him of his sins now.

David’s far reaching sins also fractured his integrity as a leader known as the warrior King chosen by God to lead His people.  Truth: Our sins will always be found out.  It is useless to hide our sins—especially from God.  It is imperative to confess our sins not outrun them or try to cover them.  Confession is not only good for the soul as the world says but must be accompanied by humbled, honest repentance to God.  Repentance is a requirement for restoring an intimate, forever relationship with God, our Creator.

Reconciliation with God was the mission of Jesus.  Jesus was sent from God, born of a virgin, reared by a devoted earthly father, from the line of David, as Son of Man and Son of God to reconcile us to God.  Jesus healed, forgave, taught God’s love in action then sacrificed his life for all the sins of the world.  He paid the debt we all owe for our sins so that we could be reconciled (reconnected) with God.  This was God’s plan of redeeming us from the beginning!  There is nothing we have done that God won’t forgive because God is just, merciful and so loved us that He sent His One and Only Son to die in our place for our sins then rise again to demonstrate God’s power who is the Source of eternal life! Yes, there is no one like our God!  And David knows it!

Psalm 51, The Message

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

^1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace!
    Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
    soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
    my sins are staring me down.

^4-6 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
    it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
    whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
    in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
    Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

^7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
    I’ll let loose with your praise.

^16-17 Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
    a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

^18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in,
    repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls.
Then you’ll get real worship from us,
    acts of worship small and large,
Including all the bulls
    they can heave onto your altar!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Repent and be reconciled to God in the Name of Jesus!

Max Lucado writes of David;

“David, the king of Israel, ended up in an Egypt of slavery of his own making. He seduced the wife of a soldier and covered up his sin with murder and deceit. He hid from God for a year, but he could not hide forever. When he finally confessed his immorality, he made only one request of God: “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11).

David did not pray, “Do not take my crown from me. Do not take my kingdom from me. Do not take my army from me.” David knew what mattered most. The presence of God. He begged God for it.

Do likewise. Make God’s presence your passion.” –Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible

Sin blocks us from God Presence. Repentance in the Name of Jesus removes the barriers and gives us full access to the throne of God.  The promise of God is forever; “I will be with you always.”

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  All my life you have been faithful to forgive and restore me.  Thank you for cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, refreshing my souls with your “new each day” mercies, and restoring continually the eternally flowing joy of your salvation at work within me—All because you chose to die for my sins and make me your child.  May my life today declare and reflect your glory and grace!

In Jesus Name, Amen