KING DAVID'S ONE  BIG  MISTAKE

Psalm 51

Part Two

Last issue we looked at the man David and saw a complicated individual that most of us could identify with at some point in our life. In I Kings 15:5 we are told that David … did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. Yet David did so many things that make it difficult for us to think of him with the same approval that God did. In the last verse of II Samuel 11 we read: "But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. And the LORD sent Nathan unto David."

There may be some advantage in reading the September/October issue before proceeding with this article. But for your convenience I will repeat a few sentences for you. 

"Psalm 51 has always been accepted as the cry of David's heart to God in response to his conviction and contrition resulting from that one great act of sin. David not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, but did so deliberately and with knowledge aforethought, and sent her husband, Uriah to certain death in battle to avoid facing the fact that Bathsheba was pregnant with the King's child. The greatness of the Psalm is not alone in the humbling of the man and the magnifying of God, but in the depth of feeling that inhabits the words that are recorded so that you and I may be encouraged to realize our need to seek after God's own heart and at the same time to honestly face our sin before we meet our Lord in eternal judgment. In order to grasp the feeling of David in Psalm 51, we need to look at II Samuel 11 and 12 for background information. There we are given all the facts relevant to the case without any attempt to protect this historical figure from the disgrace that he faced because of his lack of discernment and failure to control his royal passions."

Now let us go to Psalm 51 and try to identify with the feelings of this man after God's own heart when confronted with such a huge violation against the very Heart of God. One of the wonderful attributes of God is His loving kindness to repentant sinners. In the last few verses of Romans 5 and the first of chapter 6, we are told that where sin abounds, grace abounds that much more. If we only understood those verses, we would quickly run to God even at that moment of our greatest offense. One who has grasped His loving kindness will also be most repentant with genuine sorrow for offending His Holiness after receiving such love. (In his first Epistle, verse 1:9 John reminds us that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.")

After appealing to the loving kindness and tender mercies David shows clear knowledge of the only source of Life as Peter did in the Gospel at John 6:68 when he said to Jesus "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." David goes on to make full confession in verses 3 and 4 based upon genuine repentance for the offense committed. 

Verse 5 reveals his knowledge of the orthodox doctrine concerning Biblical Anthropology, the doctrine of MAN and his sinful condition as the offspring of Adam. (Romans 5:12). He realizes that only God is Good, that all men are created equal … equally sinful! Verses 4 and 5 must be read with insight. He says that he sinned only against God. Ultimately that is true since all sin is against the only One qualified to define sin. But he knows that he also sinned against Uriah, Bathsheba, his Nation and himself. In verse 5 he is not implying any evil in his mother during the act of conception. He means only that every child of Adam is in the same condition at birth.

Verse 6 requires holiness which is something inward and not obtained through outward cleanliness. "Cleanliness is next to godliness" is not a Bible verse! Remember Jesus words:

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man. (Mt. 15:17-20)

But make your children wash their hands anyway!

Verses 7 through 9 is a plea for that forgiveness which brings JOY and GLADNESS which results in REJOICING. These three different Hebrew words are strung together so that we get the same sense that Ezra and Nehemiah understood after the exile in Nehemiah 8:10 when they finished reading the Law after so long a time and knew that God was with them once again. They told the people to: "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength"

Verses 10 through 12 have been made into a popular chorus. Only God knows how many that sing it do so with honest hearts desiring change. But know this, that when you call upon Him in Truth, He will certainly respond with all the Spiritual help you need to be all that you desire to be. And the restoration of the Joy of your Salvation will also come to you. And what is that joy? Do you not remember when first you knew that your sins were forgiven? When you walked away after the prayer of repentance and confession feeling so light that you almost floated? Well, that joy needs recharging every once in a while, and especially at those times when sin has pulled you below sea level. With a clean heart and a right spirit, the conscious presence of God will again fill your days and nights with Joy and Gladness. 

Verse 13 through 15 are evangelical. When you are saved and you know you are saved, you will want to tell and teach others about your new life in Christ. Not only to the lost, but especially among those who know Jesus best. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Verses 16 and 17 reveal what true sacrifice is. David is not disparaging the Old Testament laws of sacrifices as recorded in the Torah, but he is allowing us to know that unless your sacrifice is accompanied by a broken spirit and a contrite heart, the sacrifice is useless. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Verses 18 and 19 express David's awareness that his own actions effect the nation over which he rules. He intercedes for Israel asking God to bless them in spite of the obstacles their King has placed in their way by his ungodly conduct. He also knows that people are more likely to respond favorably to God when they are under His blessings than when they are suffering oppression.

After reading this Psalm with as much understanding that I am able, I would desire that the politicians in our own land would consider the awesome responsibility that they have before God to rule in righteousness and integrity for the benefit of the people and the land.
I would also desire that those who say they have a call to Minister over the flock of God would consider their awesome responsibility and do so in  righteousness and integrity as required by the Word of God.

But since both of these desires are a matter of prayer and beyond my control, let me (and I would hope you also dear reader) be aware of our own conduct. All of us will sin at some point, and that sin will often affect others as well as ourselves. It will burden us and destroy our joy and fellowship with the Lord and with one another. 

David's "mistake" cost him dearly throughout the rest of his life. Even after forgiveness we often carry the scars of our folly. The time to avoid the consequences of sin is before we commit them. 

Jesus said:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

Paul Said:
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  Colossians 4:4-6

James said:
Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7. 

John said:

He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. I John 3:7

eE It will be worth it all when we see Jesus  eE
Pastor Hayden