Psalm 51

Ahh, it's always nice when you can identify the author and approximate timing of a psalm... and how nice it is for us that David was so transparent in this one. Psalm 51 was written after his confrontation with the prophet Nathan, who boldly exposed David's sin with Bathsheba. Not only did David commit adultery with her but he attempted to cover his tracks by plotting against her husband Uriah, one of his top military commanders. When Uriah remained true to his task he was rewarded with leading a venture that, unbeknown to him, was designed specifically to lead him to his death. Now how's THAT for rewarding loyalty?

A year passed before David's sin came to light. I wonder how he tried to excuse his behavior in those months... "well, I'm the king and everything in the kingdom is MINE... I didn't actually shoot the arrow that KILLED Uriah... others have done a whole lot WORSE..." Isn't justifying our actions one of the ways Satan deceives us?

Whatever his thoughts, David was eventually slapped in the face with the reality that what he had done was a slap in the face of his God, who had graciously blessed him with EVERYTHING he had. 2 Samuel 11-12 records the entire account, but several things stand out to me in that passage: "The thing David had done DISPLEASED the Lord... If all [the kingdom] had been too little, [God] would have given you more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in His eyes?"

These words rang in David's ears and penetrated his heart, and his response to his colossal mess was Psalm 51. Listen to the words he uses as he remembers God's attributes: unfailing love, great compassion, right, justified, desires truth, teaches wisdom, saves, cleans, purifies, restores, doesn't delight in sacrifices or take pleasure in burnt offerings. David knew that there was no sacrificial provision for adultery or murder. What did the Law demand for those two sins? Death. No lambs or doves or bulls... David deserved to die and he cried out to God with a broken heart and spirit.

These are the words David used to acknowledge what he had done: sin, transgression, evil, iniquity. He didn't make excuses or try to sugar-coat it, he saw it for what it was. His confession continued with phrases like "I know my transgressions... My sin is always before me... I have sinned against You... I have done evil in Your sight..."

Then David asked God to forgive him, and boldly asked God to bless him and restore him. And God, in His rich mercy and infinite grace, answered David's prayer. But his sin wasn't without consequences, and it set the wheels in motion for calamity in his family and eventually for the entire nation of Israel. Sin ALWAYS has consequences.

Thank God that He delights in restoring His children after they've stumbled, but isn't it worth considering how He might delight in not HAVING to always restore us? As we grow in Christlikeness, shouldn't we be learning some skills about AVOIDING the stumble? Wouldn't THAT delight Him as well??

What if we understood ourselves well enough to know that we get distracted and temptation finds its way into our lives? Instead of stumbling into sin (or worse, choosing it!), what if we prayerfully stopped and took a spiritual breath? Could we ask God to show us where we are weak and to reveal what's beneath the immediate temptation? If we could see underlying desire, wouldn't God show us a choice that honored Him (1 Cor 10:13)?

This psalm deals with David's adultery and murder, but we can apply it to ANY sin. For example, stealing. If someone is tempted to embezzle from their company, what is the underlying desire? Is it wanting more money to buy more stuff (greed - bad) or is it wanting the money to pay overdue medical bills (providing for their family - good)? Is the underlying desire evil or godly, and how do we deal with that? Or better yet, how do we let God deal WITH US in that area? We will always face temptation of SOME kind, but let's ask God to examine us and show us the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of ourselves so we can do what is right and avoid getting into a colossal mess of our own.

"Create in me a pure heart... renew a steadfast spirit within me... grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." God answered David's prayer and He will answer ours. With a pure heart we can see and discern our true desires, with a steadfast spirit we can recognize and stand firm against temptation, and with a willing spirit we can DESIRE to do what is right. Now wouldn't THAT please our Lord?

Thanks to Adean for this fabulous Donnie McClurkin link:

Create in Me a Clean Heart