I think it is interesting to read through David’s life, pre-sin, during and post-sin (at least the ones that are documented in this case). David really knew and caught the grand scheme of God. He just got it, it clicked with him. Then we see in a moment of weakness and pride and at a time of low military activity for him, he commits adultery and tries to cover it up with staging a man’s death. In the readings today, we learn that David is blessed with the magnification of his posterity, as Christ will come through his line.
This is a great and wonderful example of the mercy of God and His willingness to work with us. To take us when we put forth the effort to repent and to change ourselves, and make us better and help us understand our lives and our purpose more than the previous day. If we put forth the effort.
I’ve been thinking about Psalm 51 in regards to David’s process or repentance. How do we know if we have been forgiven by God? Here are a few of the things that David notes (I like lists if you haven’t noticed from some of my other posts), we feel:
renewed
washed
clean
restored
feel to teach
we have a broken and contrite heart
David gives us a good example of how to achieve forgiveness through relating his genuine, beautiful, human and hard feelings with this and other psalms. I think I have related this before, but I do not know how the mechanics of forgiveness occur. I do not know how we can in one moment, or day, or year feel forgotten, wretched and full of guilt and the next moment, day or year feel renewed, restored and joyfull, just by cummunion with God through Christ on our knees. But I have experienced it and know it to be real, and am so thankful for this possibility in my life. It does not give me leave to premeditate sin and expect forgiveness, but should I need to repent, I know restitution is possible.
Speaking of restitution, I find it interesting that David is still used as a tool to assemble and unify Israel, even though he commited a sin that can not have full restitution as he cannot give the life of Uriah back to him. This also gives me hope. I can still be a tool for God and still feel His influence in all parts of my life, even though I am not perfect.
One other quick thing. I am amazed at how much jumping back and forth through the books of the OT with the same story. I have never read the Bible chronologically, so this is an interesting education for me. Thanks for the opportunity!
WE CAN NEVER LOSE HIS LOVE.
II Samuel 7. David was at rest, reigning over Israel in 8:15 and doing what was just and right. Says a lot for a man who had just hit rock bottom. David wanted to build a house for his God. I wonder what words God will use to answer David’s good request. I wonder because I still have him fixed in my mind as an adulterer and a murderer. So, I’m bent listening in on what God will focus on. God says: I will give Israel a home of their own. I will give you rest, David. I will make your name great, David. The LORD Himself will establish a house for you, David. Your offspring will build a house for My Name and my love will never be taken away from you, David, like it was Saul. I am so moved that God never mentions David’s sin for HE looks at David as righteous just like HE does to us. And David responds with a quiet humble heart when he hears the news that he won’t build the house but his offspring will—he would have been jealous if he was at war with his flesh.
SATAN INVITES US
TO DWELL ON THE PAST or
LIVE IN THE FUTURE
Sounds like David has dealt with his guilt as we overhear his prayer as he sits before his Lord. Wonder how he dealt with his guilt? Wonder what words God will hear from us today as we sit before HIM in this present moment? David says things like: v. 18 – Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far??? V. 19 – And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of our house. v. 22 There is No One like you. v. 27 David found courage to offer this prayer….David knew where he came from and he had acknowledged what he did that was wrong. That is the past. David lives in the present. God says He will take care of the future, so let it go. Satan wants us to live in the past or the future but not in the present. David repented of his ways. He wasn’t just being responsible going back to work, more than that—he was a broken man realizing what he had done to make his life work like he wanted.
PS – I LOVE the graphic icon you put up on each of our comments. Did you do that Wendy? Sprucing it up. Really neat. Anything black is just my favorite. I just noticed. Thanks!!!
May 6, 2008 at 5:05 am
I think it is interesting to read through David’s life, pre-sin, during and post-sin (at least the ones that are documented in this case). David really knew and caught the grand scheme of God. He just got it, it clicked with him. Then we see in a moment of weakness and pride and at a time of low military activity for him, he commits adultery and tries to cover it up with staging a man’s death. In the readings today, we learn that David is blessed with the magnification of his posterity, as Christ will come through his line.
This is a great and wonderful example of the mercy of God and His willingness to work with us. To take us when we put forth the effort to repent and to change ourselves, and make us better and help us understand our lives and our purpose more than the previous day. If we put forth the effort.
I’ve been thinking about Psalm 51 in regards to David’s process or repentance. How do we know if we have been forgiven by God? Here are a few of the things that David notes (I like lists if you haven’t noticed from some of my other posts), we feel:
renewed
washed
clean
restored
feel to teach
we have a broken and contrite heart
David gives us a good example of how to achieve forgiveness through relating his genuine, beautiful, human and hard feelings with this and other psalms. I think I have related this before, but I do not know how the mechanics of forgiveness occur. I do not know how we can in one moment, or day, or year feel forgotten, wretched and full of guilt and the next moment, day or year feel renewed, restored and joyfull, just by cummunion with God through Christ on our knees. But I have experienced it and know it to be real, and am so thankful for this possibility in my life. It does not give me leave to premeditate sin and expect forgiveness, but should I need to repent, I know restitution is possible.
Speaking of restitution, I find it interesting that David is still used as a tool to assemble and unify Israel, even though he commited a sin that can not have full restitution as he cannot give the life of Uriah back to him. This also gives me hope. I can still be a tool for God and still feel His influence in all parts of my life, even though I am not perfect.
One other quick thing. I am amazed at how much jumping back and forth through the books of the OT with the same story. I have never read the Bible chronologically, so this is an interesting education for me. Thanks for the opportunity!
May 7, 2008 at 3:41 am
WE CAN NEVER LOSE HIS LOVE.
II Samuel 7. David was at rest, reigning over Israel in 8:15 and doing what was just and right. Says a lot for a man who had just hit rock bottom. David wanted to build a house for his God. I wonder what words God will use to answer David’s good request. I wonder because I still have him fixed in my mind as an adulterer and a murderer. So, I’m bent listening in on what God will focus on. God says: I will give Israel a home of their own. I will give you rest, David. I will make your name great, David. The LORD Himself will establish a house for you, David. Your offspring will build a house for My Name and my love will never be taken away from you, David, like it was Saul. I am so moved that God never mentions David’s sin for HE looks at David as righteous just like HE does to us. And David responds with a quiet humble heart when he hears the news that he won’t build the house but his offspring will—he would have been jealous if he was at war with his flesh.
SATAN INVITES US
TO DWELL ON THE PAST or
LIVE IN THE FUTURE
Sounds like David has dealt with his guilt as we overhear his prayer as he sits before his Lord. Wonder how he dealt with his guilt? Wonder what words God will hear from us today as we sit before HIM in this present moment? David says things like: v. 18 – Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far??? V. 19 – And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of our house. v. 22 There is No One like you. v. 27 David found courage to offer this prayer….David knew where he came from and he had acknowledged what he did that was wrong. That is the past. David lives in the present. God says He will take care of the future, so let it go. Satan wants us to live in the past or the future but not in the present. David repented of his ways. He wasn’t just being responsible going back to work, more than that—he was a broken man realizing what he had done to make his life work like he wanted.
May 7, 2008 at 3:51 am
PS – I LOVE the graphic icon you put up on each of our comments. Did you do that Wendy? Sprucing it up. Really neat. Anything black is just my favorite. I just noticed. Thanks!!!