From our reading yesterday, we know that David knew what it was to sin and to be forgiven. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and used the Ammonites to kill Uriah the Hittite. He knew the joy he speaks of in Psalm 32 “for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.” What a wonderful Psalm.He also talks about the joy that comes “for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.” It’s not that David didn’t commit sin – he did, but the guilt of that sin was cleared by the Lord.
Let’s face it: we all sin. Thank God for Jesus who bore the guilt of our sin before we were ever born.
We also get a small picture of what David went through before he confessed his sin: his body wasted away, he groaned all day long, he felt the Lord’s hand of discipline heavy on him, and his strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Psalm 51 shows us David’s repentant spirit and his prayer to God for forgiveness. We’re told it is a Psalm regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David committed adultery with Bathsheba. This prayer could definitely be called the sinner’s prayer. We ask for mercy from God, not because of any righteousness or merit on our part, but because of his UNFAILING LOVE, because of his great COMPASSION. God alone is able to blot out the stain of our sin, wash us clean from our guilt, and purify us from our sin. And once our sins are dealt with we can have our joy back, we can rejoice. Notice also that David is not sacrificing a burnt offering here. He realizes the sacrifice God is looking for is a broken spirit, a broken and repentant heart.
In Psalm 86, we see a number of blessings that God can provide us:
- He can hear our prayer
- He can protect us
- He can save us
- He is merciful
- He gives happiness
- He is good and ready to forgive
- He is full of unfailing love for all those who ask for help
- He hears our prayers
- We can call to him whenever we’re in trouble
- He will answer us
- No pagan god is like our Lord
- The nations will come and bow down before our Lord
- He is great and performs wonderful deeds
- He alone is God
- He can teach us his ways
- We can live according to his truth
- He can grant purity of heart
- His love for us is great
- He has rescued us from the depths of death
- He is a God of compassion and mercy
- He is slow to anger
- He is filled with unfailing love and faithfulness
- He gives strength to his servants
- He helps and comforts us
I don’t know about you, but I am overwhelmed by the blessings of God.
It is interesting that we would be studying Psalm 122 since we are nearing Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim), when the people celebrate their Love for the City of Peace. I hope you pray for peace in Jerusalem every day. God promises there will be peace within the walls of Jerusalem. Pray for that peace.
Tomorrow, it’s II Samuel 13 – 15.
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