David was a man after God’s own heart. He was chosen by God to be the king of Israel. From his family tree came Jesus. But David wasn’t perfect. Far from it.
King David was a murder. King David was an adulterer.
In today’s reading (if you want to join me in reading through the Bible comment below and I’ll be in touch! Here is the plan I’m using this year. It is never too late to start!), the plan including Psalm 51, which King David wrote after he was confronted by a prophet, Nathan, about his adultery.
I think there is a lot to learn in this chapter, by David’s example, about what to do when confronted with sin:
- David admitted his sin.
- His heart was broken because of his sin.
- David asked God for mercy.
- He asked God to cleanse him from his sin.
- David asked God to create in him a pure heart and to renew a steadfast spirit.
- He praised God.
We have all sinned – whether its lying or cheating or gossiping. King David’s sin was huge – murder and adultery. But when confronted with his sin he admitted what he had done and his heart was broken. His heart wasn’t broken because he had been caught. His heart was broken because he had hurt God. He asked for forgiveness. He turned away from the sin.
God forgave him.
And God turned evil into good . . . as from David and Bathsheba’s family line came a baby named Jesus who would save the world.
Becoming Mary 