Beginning again
David, the man after God's own heart, has sinned. It is disastrous, scandalous, horrific, and cataclysmic. Surely this is the end?But David's closeness to God has taught him that God is slow to anger and abounding in love. So David rushes to confession and repentance. He knows he needs to begin again...
| 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. ... 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. ... 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. ... 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalms51:1-19) |
Psalm 51 has become a cliche: "Oh yes that's David's prayer of confession."
We might even quietly be thinking - well at least I didn't sin as badly as he did!
There is even a danger that this beautiful psalm could be considered "cheap grace" - you sin, you say sorry, and then everything's ok and you can sin again.
But a careful reading of this Psalm reveals something different. David isn't merely rebooting his operating system - he is doing a complete reinstall. He isn't simply going through the motions, he really is beginning again.
Let's look at some key features of the Psalm...
- He knows that forgiveness is not a right, but something that is a pure gift out of God's abundant goodness.
- He knows that his sin is serious and terminal. He can't explain it away, sweep it under the carpet or make up for it. He has no leg to stand on.
- He knows that he needs more than forgiveness. He needs a new beginning and he can't make that happen by himself. It is God who creates pure hearts,renews steadfast spirits and restores joy. It is a work of grace. It is God who gives us willing spirits.
- A new beginning can only come from a death to selfish pride and arrogance. It needs contrite brokenness. This is not hopeless brokenness but contrition - hopeful brokenness - "I can't ever fix myself but God can fix me!")
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This is the end of our series on All Things New and New Beginnings. Next week we will start the Month of Mission where various ministers from across the Denomination will write devotions for us.
