THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN
| Confrontation, Contrition, Confession by Daniel Joseph In the opening of Psalm 51, we encounter David in emotional and spiritual distress, confessing his acts and seeking to be back in God’s favor: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”Psalms 51:1-4 NIV We know the story of David and Bathsheba: envy, lust, adultery, failing to exercise leadership, abuse of power, murder – a great collection of sins. These were sins against individuals, as well as David’s kingdom, and seemingly without regret, guilt or shame. How then does David end up confessing and pleading with contrition to God for grace and mercy (Ps 51:1-2)? The first step for David was Nathan (2 Sam 12:1-24). A long-time mentor, friend, and prophet who, using a story, confronted David with his sins – smack in the face; no holds barred. “Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”2 Samuel 12:7-13 NIV When we sin, we know it. We may try to hide it from ourselves and friends; ignore it; even enjoy it. But it is never hidden from God. So, who is going to help us? Have we cultivated intimate relationships in the body of believers? Do we have someone to whom we can tell the truth, and will tell us the truth in turn? Holding us accountable for the sins against each other, and opening our eyes to the truth that they are, in fact, all sins against God? This is why David is called a man after God’s own heart. Despite his sins, he reached the point where he could acknowledge that, beyond the worldly impacts, his sins were always against God, and that God’s justice was what he sought (Ps 51:3-4). Our sins have further-reaching effects than we imagine. And the sooner we bring them to light, in honest and humble confession to God, the sooner the process of healing and restoration can begin. |
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