DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CONFESSION TIME

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – CONFESSION TIME

"So David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.' And Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.' " (II Sam. 12:13-14)

I have to admire Nathan. The prophet did not mince any words with David when he nailed David for his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to the king. I think it was Chuck Colson who said that many times religious leaders proclaimed that they would speak the truth to then President Nixon, but when they got their audience, they lost their nerve. Nathan did not white-wash God's message to David. David confessed and repented.

When we read his David's Psalm of repentance (Psalm 51), we catch the devastation of his soul. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgress-ions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight" (Psalm 51:1-4a). His conscience was tormented, and he understood that his sin was really against God. He wanted cleansing. "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (vs. 7). "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (vs. 10). "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" (vs. 12). He acknowledged that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise" (vs. 17). David confessed his sin and repented, and God forgave.

However, sadly, there were still consequences – the death of the child – because his sin brought reproach on God and caused God's enemies to blaspheme.

When I think of preachers who have failed morally, I have no doubt that God forgives the repentant heart. But I also know that their failures have brought much reproach to God's name which still lingers to this day, even 40 years later.

May we continually understand that our sins are not just against people but against God, and bring reproach to the name of our Savior. That should be a motivation to live pure lives. "Create in me a clean heart."

Love, Dad