Asking for Forgiveness

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

I was scheduled to teach the adults last Sunday, but as the day drew near, I was asked by Pastor Eric if I wanted to "catch my breath." That's fine to be honest. I had a needle with a tube in my back drawing spinal fluid as part of a study done by the Michael J. Fox Foundation examining what they call "progression markers" for Parkinson's Disease. They sent me to Las Vegas, paid me a stipend and all my expenses, allowed me to bring my wife, and put me up in a nice new hotel. For all my troubles, I went through a series of exams including the tap. It ended up being painless, but in describing it to our pastor, I think he heard the mild panic in my voice and told me to "take it easy."

Had I taught, I would have used the above story found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 as the foundation of the lesson on the Fifth Commandment ("You shall not kill"). It covers the point I made yesterday that when you violate one commandment, others seem to follow. (Pastor Todd Dittloff who was our pastor in Houston said, "When you violate one, you violate the First, which means you violate them all.")

King David lusts and covets at the start from his rooftop, while sending others to cover for him in wartime . He then uses his royal perch to seduce a woman and conceive a child (that was probably not his intent but it is an outcome of sex) . After that, he lures his faithful general, her husband, back to attempt to get him to be with her and fool him into thinking the child is his. When the lie doesn't work, he knowingly sends him into battle he sought so fierce he is killed. Let's see, where are we now? Coveting, adultery, lying, murder. To top it all off, he's abusing the truly God-given authority for which he was anointed by Samuel, so he's treading all over the First Commandment by making himself a god, rather than acknowledging the true source of who and what he is. He's also, in a way, soiling his good name, so he's clearly not honoring Jesse, his father, and his family.

David is not alone. David is one of many men who fail in life (including me), starting small (seeing something they like which turns to desire), and then sin on top of sin later, find themselves in despair. Why are we so vulnerable to such behavior as men of God? The Book of Proverbs places it at the feet of pride (or ego). James will warn us about temptation. Paul talks frequently about the sins of the "old Adam."

David, author of Psalm 139, asks God to "search him and know his heart." (v 23) He confesses that God knows him intimately, forming him in his mother's womb, ("knitted me together") (v 13), and notes that God knows words before they are formed on his lips ("tongue" - v 4). In spite of this level of awareness, David thinks he has fooled God, and so he feels as though he made everything alright. He resumes to rule. God knows better though and sends Nathan to rebuke David. David is forgiven but there are consequences to his sin. 

The Apostle John tells us that "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (v 8) "But," he continues, "If we confess our sin, God who is faithful and just forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).

So, what sin do you have that you believe to be so great that God will not, or cannot in your estimation, forgive? Murder? Lying? Wanting what isn't yours to have (covet)? God forgives that, including from the cross when Christ asks his Father to forgive those responsible for his death. Paul was forgiven for murder. Moses was as well, and so was David. So, as you examine your life, know God knows these things already, but to confess before him and seek forgiveness is to seek his mercy and grace on bent knee. Humility in place of ego.

Pray with me; Gracious Father, I have sinned against you in my prideful actions. I confess the sins of ______________ and ask that you forgive these sins I confess and those I'm not aware of. Help me to know you are a forgiving God, and that I am restored through your sacrificial act of your Son's suffering, death and resurrection to cleanse me from all my unrighteousness. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. Thanks be to you for your steadfast love for me. In Christ's name, Amen.