God of Abraham, You’re the God of covenant
And faithful promises, yeah
Time and time again
You have proven
You’ll do just what You said

Though the storms may come, and the winds may blow, I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn when You speak a word, it will come to pass

(Songwriters: Aaron Moses / Dante Bowe / Joe L. Barnes / Keila Marin / Lemuel Marin / Phillip Carrington Gaines; Promises lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing, Royalty Network)

This song, “Promises” sung by Maverick, is playing in the background of my heart, mind, and soul as we meditate on Psalm 86, written by King David

But I wonder, when we pray, do we fully expect an answer from our Faithful God?

David was not perfect.  He didn’t always do the right thing personally and it affected the lives of his entire household, but one thing is certain; God did not throw him out with the “Bathsheba” water either. God forgave David.  God did not give up on David. God also taught David great lessons from his messes so others would know the God of all. We also learn, that through it all, what David feared most was the loss of God’s Presence with him.

We recall Psalm 51 and the repentant words pierce our hearts. We know “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that all need to come back to God, repent, and listen to Him! David’s words in Psalm 51:10-12 were prompted upon repentance the prophet Nathan confronted him regarding his sin with Bathsheba. It is a heartfelt cry for forgiveness, mercy, and restoration.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12, NIV

Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me….

But let’s dive a bit deeper—

David had sinned greatly against his family, his kingdom work and most of all against God. David lived in misery. God never left Him; but didn’t help David continue in sin either. What God did provide was the prophet Nathan, David’s friend and trusted advisor to help him see what David was not realizing the greatness of his sins committed against both families hurt by his adultery and the evil scheme of trying to cover it up. (Read 2 Samuel 12) 

When David realized the full magnitude of his sins; David’s humbled, first response to Nathan: “I have sinned against the Lord.” 

I don’t know about you but at the first reading of his confession; I wanted more from David than just those few words, right? David, you have sinned against a woman who was married who complied because you were King! You even had her husband put to death to make your adultery be okay with everyone involved!  What gives? 

But consider this thought.  After years of studying David’s life with God; I have discovered that in His prayerful and powerful confession of these particular words were first for God alone. David had to get to the core of his sin so that he could be fully restored in soul, spirit, and mind. David had sought the heart of God most of his life.  He was known for “running after the heart of God”. But now, he fell for self, satisfying his own heart, and has all but forgotten his “first love”—God. David’s heart is divided and division leads to acts of rebellion first against God and then to His people. 

In another translation of Psalm 51:4, David says, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.” Why would David say these words when he obviously sinned against others?

Rosalie de Rosset, Professor at Moody Bible Institute writes;

“Sin holds a posture of defiance toward God’s commands; it is an assault on God’s authority. One Bible scholar notes that sin is primarily about “assaulting the glory of God, rebelling against God…a vertical phenomenon.”

Too often we confess our sins toward others without fully understanding our offense against God. Although David failed miserably, he was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). He always returned to his earnest love for God. He always repented and understood his failure before God and reset his life toward Him. David knew that he couldn’t live long with the separation from God, caused by sin.

So, when David said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned,” he was acknowledging his rebellion against God. He was asking forgiveness for his dismissal of God’s commands. As commentators have noted, when Nathan came to David he said pointedly, “Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (2 Sam. 12:9).  David knew that the worst thing he had done was to despise God. He was not minimizing his crimes against others. Rather, he was emphasizing the direct assault on God that he had caused with those acts.”  

King David repents to God first for it is it his sins that are separating him from God and His Presence!  Ah, now we get it.  Once his sins are confessed, asking for repentance, and his will surrendered to God and His will; David comes boldly and confidently to His God who listens and is present with him.  We have the same God who does not give up on us nor does He ever leave us when we call on His Holy Name.  

Psalm 86, The Message

A prayer of David.

^1-7 Bend an ear, God; answer me.
    I’m one miserable wretch!
Keep me safe—haven’t I lived a good life?
    Help your servant—I’m depending on you!
You’re my God; have mercy on me.
    I count on you from morning to night.
Give your servant a happy life;
    I put myself in your hands!
You’re well-known as good and forgiving,
    bighearted to all who ask for help.
Pay attention, God, to my prayer;
    bend down and listen to my cry for help.
Every time I’m in trouble I call on you,
    confident that you’ll answer.

^8-10 There’s no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord,
    and nothing to compare with your works.
All the nations you made are on their way,
    ready to give honor to you, O Lord,
Ready to put your beauty on display,
    parading your greatness,
And the great things you do—
    God, you’re the one, there’s no one but you!

^11-17 Train me, God, to walk straight;
    then I’ll follow your true path.
Put me together, one heart and mind;
    then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear.
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord;
    I’ve never kept secret what you’re up to.
You’ve always been great toward me—what love!
    You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
God, these bullies have reared their heads!
    A gang of thugs is after me—
    and they don’t care a thing about you.

But you, O God, are both tender and kind,
    not easily angered, immense in love,
    and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
    give your servant the strength to go on,
    save your dear, dear child!
Make a show of how much you love me
    so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed,
As you, God, gently and powerfully
    put me back on my feet.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“…you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet”.

And please, dear friends, do not fall for the current “believe in yourself” mantra that we should all strive to a better me in this world; but wholly believe, repent, and surrender to God through Jesus with a holy commitment to be more Him who saved us and set us free!

We were created in the image of God.  Through belief in Jesus, surrender with repentance of sins in His Name; God steps in to create, from the inside out, new, pure hearts, removing all that is not of God. Because of Jesus sacrifice, we are forgiven, completely.  Our sins repented are no longer held against us.  The ledger is wiped clean.  Hearts cleansed. Then the real work to transform us begins.

Upon surrender, God’s Holy Spirit immediately comes to reside within our souls to lead us to all that is Truth (Jesus) with purpose, renewing and restoring His Presence with us.  God restores the joy (and peace) of His salvation at work within us to refresh us daily.  Our commitment to believe wholeheartedly with a humble heart, seeking the mind of Christ, while filling our hungry souls with his Daily Manna of His Word leads to transformation of our behaviors.  It is God’s power that transforms us with our willingness to allow Him to do it! Only God.

What a privilege to watch God create us again to be His image bearer, to become His masterpiece, made in His image, becoming more and more like Him in every way as we yield to the work of His Hands!  Yes, and Amen—To God be the glory!

I put my faith in Jesus
my anchor to the ground
my hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down
He’ll never let me down
He’ll never let me down

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us—daily. I surrender all to Your loving, faithful hands.

In Jesus Name, Amen

From the rising sun to the setting same, I will praise your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me…