Since the beginning of this year our Sunday lessons have focused on big issues relating to our call as disciples of Jesus. We have visited issues such as fear, worry, generosity, loyalty to Jesus above all other loyalties, and recently we have focused on our call as peacemakers. With so much focus on the call to obey, I think we need to be reminded that our God is a God of forgiveness and healing when we fail.
In Psalm 51, David is mourning for his sin with Bathsheba, who was not his wife. As I’m sure you recall, that initial sin of adultery led him on a path that ended in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband. All of this from the man who we are told was “a man after God’s own heart.” He came to be abundantly aware of his sin as he says in Psalm 51:3, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”
The word he chose to describe his moral failure is quite significant. This word “transgressions” carries the nuanced meaning of casting off allegiance and a rebellion against a ruler. This is how David saw his sin. He realizes that it was more than a “mistake” or a “slip up;” it was an act of rebellion and a denial of his primary allegiance to God.
This fact makes Psalm 51 all the more meaningful to us who also do more than “make mistakes” and “slip up” every once in a while. David knew His God well. He knew that God had revealed Himself to be “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7) That word for “rebellion” is the same word David used to describe his “transgression” in Psalm 51:3.
So, when David cried out “Have mercy on me, God, according to your unfailing love; according to your compassion blot out my transgressions,” (Psalm 51:1), it was a not a wishful cry of desperation. Rather David was leaning in confident, hope-filled assurance on who God had revealed Himself to be back in Exodus 34. He is the God who is compassionate and abounding in love. That’s why David was able to confidently affirm, “a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) To be “contrite” refers to being emotionally crushed by our sin. This could be part of what Jesus had in mind when He said, “blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
On this side of the cross of Jesus we have seen the lengths to which God has gone to provide for our forgiveness and sanctification, how much more should we be able to speak with confident, hope-filled assurance that God will forgive our rebellion and sin when we turn to him with a broken and contrite spirit!
Let us maintain a focus on living worthily of the call to discipleship that Jesus has given us, but let us never forget the compassionate, loving nature of our God who forgives us when we “make a mistake” and even when we fall into acts of rebellion if we repent and return with a contrite spirit.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)