Often it’s disappointing when we discover that a person we admire has faults. A close friend, spouse, child or even someone we admire within our own church family who falls short of our expectations. We feel bitterness that is sometimes hard to overcome. In order to make sense of their shortcomings we must remember that we too have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None of us is perfect, no not one.
A look at David’s life shows us that we serve a merciful, forgiving God. In spite of David’s lust for a married woman and the murder of her husband, David found forgiveness. This gives us the confidence that we too can come before the Lord and receive forgiveness. God won’t overlook our sins but He won’t be crushed by them either. God knows that we are only human and as such we are sinners.
We are all miserable failures when it comes to being perfect. There is only One perfect Man and that is Jesus. We all have demons that we fight on a daily basis and though we sometimes give in to those demons we know that we can count on God to forgive us. God is not looking for a reason to condemn us; He is looking for a reason to rescue us. The only way He can rescue us is for us to confess our sin just as David did when confronted by the Prophet Nathan. He didn’t make excuses for the evil he had committed. With a broken heart he confessed his sin. He asked for and received forgiveness and his fellowship with the Lord was restored.
Through David we learn about the grace of God, and we are reminded that you and I are invited to come boldly to the Lord too that He may meet us—and our needs.
SCRIPTURE
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! 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. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 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. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Psalm 51:1-13
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