Reading these psalms in their historical context deepens their meaning, don’t you think?
I had long been disgusted by David’s audacity in asking all the things he asked for after the horrible sins he had committed, until I realized that the man after God’s own heart, where his concept of God’s forgiveness differs from mine, may be able to teach me something about the way God wants to forgive. Viewed in that context, these psalms are powerful. I am tempted to expound on them more than I should, because I treasure the truths taught in these psalms; however, I know that the Holy Spirit’s teaching is much more powerful than mine, and I want you to benefit from truly understanding the truths presented in these psalms as much as I have. So this post will attempt to guide you in seeking the truth from God. I pray that you will find it healing, and that it will draw you closer to God.
David’s description in Psalm 32 of what bearing the guilt for his sin was like for him reveals more than the historical accounts do; can you relate to his suffering? The opening verses in the psalm testify that he took God at His word when He offered him forgiveness. Do you remember what God had told him through Nathan? Can you feel his joy in those verses, the joy of being relieved of his guilt?
Think about the following questions:
- What is he advising in verse 6?
- How is that connected to verse 7?
- What is his counsel to the godly in verses 8 through 10? How do you need to apply that to your own life?
Psalm 51 is the one that used to make me so angry with David; now I treasure it. Make a list of all that David asks for from God in the way of forgiveness and restoration. I will get you started:
- Mercy according to His steadfast love
- Blotting out of his transgressions (which God had already promised; why would he need to ask for that?)
- Thorough cleansing from his sin – not just forgiveness, but cleansing from the enslavement that sin produces…
- The last couple verses are David’s request for relief from the consequences of his sin. As the capital of the nation, Jerusalem was not only important, but symbolic; building it up meant stability for the nation. I wonder if he wasn’t aware that that would be the place God would choose to build a temple and thus the place where all the nation would gather for the celebration of their holy days forever after. He was asking God not to change His mind about establishing the nation by establishing this important city, as consequence of his sin. He didn’t want God removing His favor from Israel because of their leader’s sin.
If David asked for this kind of forgiveness, why shouldn’t we when we need to seek God’s forgiveness? Now that we understand the fullness of the forgiveness God wants us to seek, to fail to seek it is repudiating His good gift. Who doesn’t take such rejection of a treasured gift personally? Whether we would intend to or not, refusing to accept His precious gift is a slap in His face. Is there any part of this full forgiveness that you need to seek today? Be a ready confessor like David was, and experience the drawing near that God wants you to enjoy!