David
A Man after God’s Own Heart.
God said of David, “He is a man after my own heart.” He had a hunger, a thirst and a longing for God. David knew God and had a relationship with him. He knew what it was to depend on God. As a young boy he looked after the sheep and protected them from wild animals. David did not have a heart that desired to take revenge. Saul had pursued David to kill him but when he had the opportunity to kill Saul he did not take it.
We would think that David would not sin in the way he did if he was a man after God’s own heart. He took Bathsheba who was married to Uriah. Bathsheba became pregnant. David to cover his sin, he had Uriah killed. It appears David lived in denial of his sin until the Prophet Nathan confronted him about it.
David showed great humility when he was confronted with his sin. “He said, “I have sinned against God”. As a king he could have had Prophet Nathan put to death and even denied his sin. The world leaders today when they are confronted with their sin, usually ignore it or have the person accusing them put to death. David knew his accountability before God.
To receive God’s mercy David had to confess his sins to God. In Psalm 51 we see a deep repentance before God by David.
Have Mercy on me O God.
There is not a single person in this world who does not need God’s mercy. This very moment we live and breathe in God’s mercy. When we come to God with humility and ask him to have mercy on us, he responds to that request. David was a King and he had sinned. He knew he needed God’s mercy and forgiveness. As a king he was still accountable to God and we are all accountable to him.
According to your unfailing love.
We can only ask God to remember us because of his unfailing love. There isn’t one person in this world who can brag about their goodness before God. David had this understanding of his own failings and God’s unfailing love. In other words, God love is endless. In Psalm 103, David states, “As east is from the west so far has God removed our sins from us.” We have to believe God’s love is “endless”. His love is bigger than our sins.
According to your great compassion.
We can only ask God to remember us in his great compassion. David had to rely on God’s compassion to have his sins forgiven. God is compassionate. His heart is like no other heart. There is no sin in God.
The compassion of God is very powerfully demonstrated in the story of the prodigal son than anywhere else. The Father is looking out for his son to come back to him every day. When the Father saw his son returning home, there was no hesitation on his part. He ran to meet his son. He didn’t care how his son looked or smelt. When the Father met the son he embraced him. The son said, “Father I have sinned, I am no longer worthy to be called your son”.
The Father was not interested in a full confession. The Father called over his servants and said, “Quick, put a ring on his finger, shoes on his feet and the best robe around him. This son was mine was lost but he has now been found.” Let us celebrate his return home.
It is worth bearing in mind that the Father did not treat his son as a second class citizen or even has a servant. The Father asked for the best robe to be put on him. We are all unique. The best robe was to welcome a special person. That is the welcome waiting for you and me when we return to the Father.
Wipe away my sins.
Unlike humans God wipes away the sin and it is remembered no more. David had this great picture in his mind. As he confessed his sins to God. God would wipe them away. In our modern world, if we press the delete button on our computers all the information saved will be deleted. Honesty is the best policy before God. David had to come clean before God regarding his sin.
The Father is waiting to embrace you with his love. Come to him. (Psalm 51 is in the Bible).
Prayer
Dear God
Have mercy on me
According to your great compassion.
Wipe away my sins.
Create in me a clean heart.
So that I will not sin against you.
Amen.
By harbajan (servant of Jesus). 27/06/2024
www.godislove.me.uk