July 13, 2012

"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," Psalm 51:3-4

As I mentioned before, it is frightening to me that someone as passionate toward God as King David could do these dastardly deeds.

In a lustful moment, he ordered another man's wife to his bedroom. She had no choice when the King's men showed up to carry out the King's order.

So, David sinned against Bathsheba. He essentially kidnapped her and then assaulted her.

Of course, as King, David was above the law - he WAS the law. But he was not above God's law.

And, David sinned against Bathsheba's husband., Uriah. He was a loyal soldier serving the very King who was defiling his wife. David was supposed to be in the battle with his troops, but instead, he was home disgracing himself while his brave and loyal soldiers were defending their King.

When David found out that this woman was pregnant, he gave orders to bring Uriah home from the battle front with the assumption he would lay with Bathsheba and cover his sin. But Uriah was such a loyal soldier to his troops and his King, he refused himself the comfort of his wife while his men were facing the rigors of combat.

Once it became apparent to David that Uriah was not going to be with his wife, he sent him back to the battle with orders to station him in the fiercest part of the combat and then withdraw all the other troops leaving him alone against the enemy front line. Of course, this brave man was overwhelmed by the enemy and killed - betrayed by the very King he courageously served.

So, David sinned against Uriah again!

How ugly! How treacherous!

The same man who penned so many beautiful and inspiring Psalms also committed adultery and then murder to cover up the adultery. He sinned grievously against Bathsheba and Uriah.

But when confronted by the prophet Nathan and convicted of his sin, his repentance was directed to God, "Against You and You only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight."

In spite of the lives his sinfulness had ruined, his sin was primarily was against God. All sin is primarily aimed at God.

Sin is personal with God. He takes it personally and He takes it seriously.

God took these sins personally because David saw Bathsheba accidently the first time. But then he looked again and even sent his servants to enquire about her. So he premeditated this sin before he committed it. Knowing well that this was against God's will, he deliberately and thoughtfully committed this evil - PERSONALLY AT GOD!

It is personal because it offends His holiness and it breaks fellowship with Him. It is personal because the atonement for sin cost Him His Son, Jesus.

Sin is serious because God loves people - He loved Bathsheba and He loved Uriah - and David's sin caused them great pain. It cost Uriah his life. It cost Bathsheba her husband.

So, when David repented and cried out for God's mercy, He went called on God directly. He repented to God because he had sinned against God. He fell on the mercy of the very God he had willfully sinned against.

When his sin was crushing him and he was in desperate need of forgiveness, He cried for mercy to the God he had defied.

He found God's mercy and forgiveness. How thankful he was for a gracious God!

Your sin is no less personal or serious toward God than David's. Your repentance must be as humble and sincere as his. Have you repented to Him? You won't find mercy without repentance.