Context
2 Samuel 12:1-14 (ESV):
1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” 13 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. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”
Psalm 51 (ESV):
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
As I read these passages I cry “Dear God, woe is me.” The weight of sin is so heavy on King David. He cannot escape the guilt as he begins writing this song. This is a very sad song but has a beautiful ending. I’ve titled it “Ever Before Me,” as this psalm delves into David’s deep feelings of transgressions, iniquity, sin, and evil. How David’s false witness, adultery, covetousness, and murder brought overwhelming feelings of foolishness, dirtiness, sadness, pain, hurt, shame, a heavy heart, broken spirit, and fear. I can’t help but think that David was crying when he wrote this. Sin brings profound feelings of regret. Yes, this is a sorrowful song indeed but the last verses bring hope of relief. Relief from a God who is merciful and forgiving. As we study this today my prayer is for us to allow the word of the Lord to make our sin exceedingly sinful. To feel the weight of it and repent. To say we have “No sin” is to lie and the truth is not in us! Ask the Holy Spirit to confront your heart and bring to the forefront of your mind where repentance is needed. Ask Him to bring your sin “Ever Before You”. The universal truth is that often, we do not confront the sickness in our hearts until faced with the stark reality of our transgressions. Will we respond as David when God reveals it?
A definition of wrong
I think it is important to define deeper the meaning of sin. Most of us know what sin is but do we understand how God sees our sin? Do we understand the words that describe it? In Psalm 51 David uses 4 words for us to consider.
- Transgression:
- Definition: Transgression refers to the act of violating a law, command, or moral principle. It involves crossing a boundary or going beyond established limits.
- Usage: It often emphasizes the breach of a specific rule or command, highlighting the action of going against a prescribed standard. David had certainly broken all the rules. He had broken the written, moral, and spiritual law.
- Iniquity:
- Definition: Iniquity denotes gross immorality, injustice, or wickedness. It suggests a deeply sinful and morally objectionable behavior.
- Usage: Iniquity is often associated with a more inherent or intrinsic moral wrongness. It implies a deviation from what is considered right or just. Nathan describes David’s behavior as taking away Uriah’s only lamb, to which David responds “This man deserves to die!” Never considering that he was the man.
- Sin:
- Definition: Sin is a broader term encompassing any act or thought that goes against the divine will or moral principles. It includes actions, intentions, or attitudes that are morally wrong or lack of doing what is required,
- Usage: Sin is a comprehensive term that covers a wide range of morally objectionable behaviors. It is a fundamental concept in religious and moral teachings. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Who? All!
- Evil:
- Definition: Evil refers to the presence of profound wickedness or moral corruption. It can manifest in various forms, including actions, intentions, or conditions that cause harm or go against goodness.
- Usage: Evil is a more encompassing term that extends beyond individual actions. It can refer to the broader existence of malevolence, often associated with a malevolent force or influence. When God looks down does He see the deeds of men and the thoughts of their hearts on evil continually? Remember before the flood? Genesis 6:3 (ESV) reads: “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.’ Never forget that God is angry at sin every day.
- Psalm 7:11-13 (ESV) God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. 12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; 13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.”
While there is overlap in their meanings, the distinctions lie in the emphasis on specific violations (transgression), inherent moral wrongness (iniquity), the broad category of moral wrongdoing (sin), and the presence of profound wickedness (evil).
Now, let’s explore David’s expressions and confession of these, his profound feelings of remorse, and God’s merciful responses, recognizing that the journey from the depths of sin to the heights of redemption is a testament to the human condition and the boundless mercy of a forgiving God.
Transgressions
David acknowledges his transgressions, recognizing the gravity of his actions. He humbly lays them before God, seeking forgiveness. God responds with justification (Just as if he never sinned), understanding the sincerity of David’s repentant heart. However, the consequences are very severe. In God’s sight, David will be justified but the repercussions will reverberate through his house forever. His children and grandchildren will suffer and many repeat the actions of their father. Truly his sins are visited on the third and fourth generations. David’s lack of self-control brought judgment to his family but this wasn’t enough to stop his immoral actions. What will it take for us to break the cycle? Psalm 51 is the beginning of David’s journey to a renewed spirit. His broken and contrite heart is real. Lord help us to have a broken heart for our sin in this moment.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:1-2 – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”]
Iniquity
David confesses his iniquity and the twisted nature of his wrongdoings. God responds by offering a new nature through the Holy Spirit, bringing about a profound change within David.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”]Sin
David admits to his sins, the deliberate actions that separated him from God. God justifies him, wiping away the guilt and providing a clean slate. How often do we deliberately sin, refusing to take responsibility for our actions? Rest assured that God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that shall he also reap.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:3-4 – “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”]Evil
David laments the presence of evil in his life. God responds by instilling uprightness in David’s heart, guiding him away from the path of wickedness. David recognizes that his sin is against God first and foremost. This doesn’t mean that his sins aren’t against others too. His sin cost Uriah his life, a baby dies, and the blood never leaves his household. But only God can restore David so he goes to God.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”]
Lies
David confronts the lies he has spoken. God responds by imparting wisdom, leading David towards truth and honesty. We must come to God honestly.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”]
Foolish
David acknowledges his moments of foolishness. God responds by transforming David’s heart, filling it with wisdom and discernment.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:6 – “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”]
Dirty, corrupt
David expresses the feeling of dirtiness within. God’s response is the cleansing of the heart, washing away the impurities, and restoring purity.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:7 – “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”]
Sadness, Pain, Hurt
David bares his soul, revealing the depths of his sadness, pain, and hurt. God responds by bringing gladness, joy, and healing to David’s wounded spirit.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:8 – “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.”]Shame
David grapples with shame. God responds by replacing shame with confidence, assuring David of His unconditional love.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”]
Heavy Heart, Broken Spirit
David pours out his heavy heart and broken spirit. God responds by bestowing a lightened heart and a renewed, unbroken spirit.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”]
Fear
David expresses fear. God responds by instilling a sense of joy and confidence, casting out fear through divine assurance.
[Scripture: Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”]
In the New Testament, we have a parallel. Paul’s first letter was a correcting confrontation. Confrontation always precedes repentance. The question is how severe must it be for us to respond. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:31 “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” Will we be honest with ourselves today? Will we ask God to bring Godly sorrow?
2 Corinthians 7:8-12 (ESV): 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point, you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
Godly sorrow
Today’s study is heavy, but if are to please God we must “Lay aside the weight and sin that so easily beset us.” If we confess our sins He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from our sins. Will we admit it? Will we confront it? Will we repent and go the other way?
Psalm 51, “Ever Before Me,” encapsulates David’s journey of repentance and the transformative response of a merciful God. David’s expressions of transgressions, iniquity, sin, evil, lies, foolishness, dirtiness, sadness, pain, hurt, shame, a heavy heart, broken spirit, and fear find redemption and renewal through God’s gracious responses. This timeless psalm, coupled with Paul’s insights in 2 Corinthians 7:8-12, serves as a testament to the power of sincere repentance and the unfailing love of a God who transforms, justifies, and restores. The path to renewal begins with the confrontation of our own shortcomings, leading to a godly grief that produces repentance and a renewed heart.