A New “OnFire Cafe” Book Club series The Study of Scripture. Come Study with us in a Trilogy about King David’s fall from God’s graces. We will look at King David’s Great Sins, God’s Response to King David’s Sin and King David’s “The Sinners Prayer”. This is the Third Episode Post in our Trilogy…
King David’s Prayer – Psalm 51
King David’s deliberate sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the orchestration of her husband’s murder Uriah the Hittite creates God’s displeasure. And God sends the profit Nathan who confronts King David about these sins. When King David realizes what has happened he immediately acknowledges his sin to God and begs for God’s forgiveness. At some point thereafter he retreats and Prays for repentance in Psalm 51. Let’s consider some possible meaning behind King David’s “The Sinners Prayer”.
Discernment of Sin
King David’s “The Sinners Prayer”
Psalm 51:1-5
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Pleads for Mercy
King David is at the mercy of God’s grace as there is no true prayer for forgiveness of a deliberate sin. David is broken, he’s forced to accept what’s been done. He has no control now. He is remorseful and full of regret. And he is reliant solely on the mercy of God.
Continuing his pleas with God to make him clean again. To make him able to accept what has happened and to be whole again. What he has done has left a dark stain on his heart. A darkness within him that he can not remove by himself. He is begging God to take this away from him and free him from the torment of it. To cleanse his soul and restore the light.
Accepts Responsibility
He personalizes his sin before God. Takes responsibility for it. Acknowledges that his remorse is ever present. His guilt has become a part of him. David comes before God just as a sinner. He has no pride, he has no excuses. He simply comes to God reliant upon God’s love and mercy. Just as any sinner he lays his life at the feet of Almighty God.
King David acknowledges that his sin was against God and his Kingdom. That though he hurt Bathsheba and killed Uriah ultimately the sin was against Almighty God. He had been one of God’s chosen and he violated that trust. Sinning against God and breaking His Holy Laws. Acknowledging that he deserves to be punished and will accept what God demands of him.
Continuing he acknowledges that the sin was his own fault. That it is within the heart of man. That he chose to sin due to this selfishness and a sinful nature. That this evil is something man carries from birth and it is up to man to control. In his weakness he did not choose to control it and he was controlled by it. And the fault lies with no one but him.
Create A Clean Heart
King David’s “The Sinners Prayer”
Psalm 51:6-12
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Needs God’s Heart Again
He talks about the need to be cleansed from deep within himself. The secret place that no one sees. A cleansing of the heart and soul is the only way to the truth and to wisdom. He knows he can not do it himself he recognizes it requires the power of God to make him whole again. His faith gives him the strength to tell God that he knows it will be done for him. God will bring him back from the edge of the darkness where he now stands…
King David continues to plead to be cleansed. To be washed clean of his sin to again be white as snow. He is making reference to a ceremonial cleansing to illustrate his need to be forgiven. Indicating that only God can remove the sin that was there and free him completely. He desperately pleads to God to make him Clean again.
Continuing with a request that God send him a joyful heart so that he’s finally free of the burden. Show him that God has reconciled with him. He speaks of his bones being crushed to demonstrate how he’s feeling as a result of the sinful actions and knowledge of God’s displeasure. He’s pleading for healing from this pain.
Needs A Renewed Spirit
He begins to speak about the purity of God. How God should not look upon his sin and he is not worthy to be in the sight of God. He’s now asking God to blot out all of his sin. Expressing feelings of a deep remorse for his actions. He doesn’t want to leave any sin unforgiven up to this point. He’s pleading for God to cleanse all of them.
King David is now asking God to come in to him and make a new person. A person who is ready to do his work. Someone ready to do the good works that God has for him. He’s asking for a clean heart and a renewed spirit representing a renewal of the heart and soul.
Please Don’t Leave Me
He continues recognizing that he was in danger of being separated from God because of his sin. Again pleading with God not to cast him away and not to take the Holy Spirit away from him. God had done this before with others as documented in the Old Testament. So King David had a valid fear that it could also be done to him. Still pleading that God will forgive him his sins. And that God will restore his Salvation. Keeping the Holy Spirit within him.
Pledging Obedience to God
King David’s “The Sinners Prayer”
Psalm 51:13-19
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Guide Others To Forgiveness
King David pledges himself to God’s will. He pledges to teach from his experience and to convert the sinners. Showing them from his unique perspective what the consequences of sin can be. Showing them how to humble themselves before God and ask for His forgiveness. He will show them what to do to find salvation.
Forgiveness for Bloodshed
Continuing with a plea for God’s forgiveness specifically for the bloodshed. For David had arranged for the murder of Uriah the Hittite and sacrificed additional lives in it’s execution on the battlefield. He had cost lives in pursuit of his lustful desire for Bathsheba. These men who died were his faithful guards they were innocents. His guilt is more than he can bare at this point. He is broken in it. Pleading for God to absolve him. He promises that he will sing the praises of God’s righteousness. Telling everyone about his forgiveness. He will teach of God’s love and kindness to all who will listen. He will speak his praises.
Come to God in Brokenness
He acknowledges that there is no sacrifice dictated in the Law that would be sufficient for the sins he has committed. No burnt offering would be enough for justification of the murders by his acts. He tells God that if there was a sacrifice that was available for this sin he would gladly give it. He will do whatever God requires to make this right again.
King David acknowledges that the only true sacrifice worthy of God’s forgiveness is to come broken before him. A broken spirit. Knowing that the sins are so great that God in his mercy should not forgive them. The guilt of that sin being so great that it destroys all desire, leaving you broken and helpless before God. There is no choice but to repent because without repentance there is nothing left. There is such a deep sorrow. And it is then and only then that God would consider showing the mercy to forgive.
Sacrifices of Purity
Continuing King David begins to speak of his forgiveness. He begins to speak of sacrifices worthy of God’s Glory, those of a purity of heart. Sacrifices that would build up and strengthen the Holy City of Jerusalem. Sacrifices that would bring joy to the city of Zion. And he says that these pure sacrifices would be pleasing to God. And only in righteousness would the sacrifice have meaning. Only in the purity of spirit are they worthy to please God.
And God Was Listening…
I hope you enjoyed the Third and Final Episode Post in this Trilogy about King David’s Sins. This Trilogy was the introduction to the new Series the Study of Scripture in the “OnFire Cafe”. Watch for the next one in the near future. We hope to see you there…
For the Love of God,
Sparks
