Forgiveness 4: a journey into confession
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
King David appeared on the scene of Israelites trial almost messianic in nature. After defeating Goliath,he eventually becomes king. He, described as a man
after Gods own heart, failed to avoid sin by being unfaithful as commander of Israeli armies. When he should have been at war, he finds himself lusting after Bathsheba from his rooftop vantage. He takes her and has his way with her, like a recent president stated, "because he could." (An interview with Bill Clinton by Dan Rather).
In an effort to hide his sin, David plied his faithful captain uriah, with liquor in an attempt to make him sleep with his wife. Failing to follow David's futile attempt to cover Bathsheba's pregnancy, Uriah shows his commitment to David and his company of soldiers by staying with them instead of taking leave with his wife. Uriah felt he should not have leave if his men did not get leave. Ultimately David killed uriah, by ordering him to the front lines where this faithful man was killed. Like us, David thought he had covered his tracks. The problem for David, is that God sees all and knows all. After Nathan the prophet confronted David, he repented, and cried out to God, confessing his sin, and asking for a clean heart that only comes from God's forgiveness.
This psalm, David's prayer recorded for us today, maps the path we all need to take when we find we too have sinned.
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