2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

“To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:12

In this portion of scripture, a Psalm of King David, written after Nathan the prophet confronts David in regards to the adulterous affair with Bathsheba, we read a heart rendering story of sin and the damage it brings to the spirit. If any of you have ever doubted God’s reasoning for acknowledging David as being one after His own heart, I think we can find somewhat of an answer in this portion of scripture. Unlike his predecessor, Saul, who acted arrogant and dismissive at God’s rebuke, David comes as an open book before his Redeemer. “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin [is] always before me.” (Psalm 51:3) Over David’s life, we see that his relationship with the Lord turns to honesty, openness and confidence in God’s transforming work in his life. David comes repeatedly to the grace of God for overflowing life and renewal, even in the midst of complete spiritual desolation. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me [by Your] generous Spirit.” (Psalm 51:12) When David prays, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me,” (Psalm 51:11), the word used for create is the Hebrew word, “bara’,” which means to shape, fashion, create (always with God as subject), of heaven and earth, of individual man, of new conditions and circumstances, and of transformations. This is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created…” David understood and trusted in God’s miraculous working power that from nothing God could and would restore completely the repentive heart. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:18-19) Oh how beautiful is the working of God’s grace. I am so thankful that in my life the Lord has begun a good work in me, as David trusted, and that He will finish it toward His glorious end, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Phil. 1:6) and “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Be blessed today…
Carol Danna

Next Reading: 2 Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24