The Goodness of God in Repentance
Psalm 51
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart (Psalm 51:6).
King David was a hot mess. The man after God's own heart had a personal heart problem. Military victories came regularly, when David followed the will of God. They didn't go as well when he followed his own mind. In 2 Samuel 10, David sent envoys to an ally at the death of its king, but they were rebuffed and humiliated by the successor. That served as a declaration of hostilities, and the resulting battles between Israel and the Arameans led to massive victories for God's people, even though David, the king, remained in Jerusalem. David should have spent the next few months thanking God for His protection. Evidently, however, David had other things on his mind.
The next spring (2 Samuel 11:1), David sent his armies off to lay siege against the Ammonites in a continuation of the wars from 2 Samuel 10. He, himself, stayed in Jerusalem. There's no record of why, but being home gave David too much time to daydream. 2 Samuel 11 records the events from David's free time: his affair (more likely rape) of Bathsheba, her pregnancy, his attempts to cover up his actions, the murder of Bathsheba's husband, and David's making Bathsheba one of his wives. In one fell swoop, David broke at least five of the ten commandments, and arguably all but two. He coveted his neighbor's wife, lied about Uriah, stole Uriah's wife and her honor, committed adultery, and ordered a murder. He made himself both god and idol, worshipping his lust and desire above the Lord his God.
David did have the good sense to keep a godly advisor around, and Nathan pulled no punches in condemning David's actions and attitude. 2 Samuel 12 recounts Nathan's approach. The King James version may be the most powerful to read, but any version captures both Nathan's audacity and David's utter breakdown. There is no question that man after God's own heart was utterly rebellious before becoming utterly repentant.
David knew how to repent better than we do. One reason David could let go of guilt and go on with his life (in spite of the natural consequences of the sin and the enduring discipline of the Lord) was that he recognized the depth of his depravity, especially compared to the perfect holiness of God. Psalm 51 records David's confession and plea for mercy after the confrontation with Nathan. He acknowledges his rebellion, accepts the just punishment, recognizes the righteousness of God, and then pleads for the nation to prosper in spite of his sin.
David's humility allowed him to see himself as he truly was. It's so much easier to say, "Sorry, Lord" and assume that an inauthentic apology is sufficient. Worse is to say, "Jesus paid it all," without remembering the rest, "all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain…"(Hall). What gets in the way? Pride. Assumption. Comparison. Hubris. How can we overcome these obstacles? Introspection. Honesty. Accountability. Community.
That last one may be the hardest. One thing many of us postulated during the pandemic of 2020-2023 was that we don't need physical community. We have social media, online Bible studies, craft and hobby groups, internet-based courses, and even apps for physical fitness at home. We can shop from home and have everything delivered. We can go days-or even weeks without face-to-face contact with other members of the human race.
We were not created to be alone.
Genesis 2:18: "It is not good that the man should be alone…" It doesn't get clearer. We need each other to thrive. The early church devoted itself to teaching, meals, prayer, and fellowship (Acts 2:42). Fellowship includes confessing our sins to one another (James 5:16), not in a public proclamation, but to a trusted brother or sister in Christ, one who can walk with us along a restorative path. Every 12-step program orders in a similar way: confess, repent, recognize a higher power, make amends, and work toward restoration. Those steps come from the Bible, and all show up in this prayer of David:
"I know my transgressions" (v 3).
"Against you…have I sinned and done what is evil" (v 4).
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy" (v 1).
"Let the bones that you have broken rejoice" (v.8).
"Renew a right spirit within me" (v 10).
"For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it" (v 16).
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (v 17).
David's prayer is rich with emotion, despair, hope, and contrition. It was not quick, nor did it presume God's deliverance. David spoke within the goodness of God's character, knowing that only that goodness would restore him. And it did. God allowed the natural consequences of David's rebellion to follow him the rest of his life, but Jesus is a direct descendent of David both by blood (Mary) and adoption (Joseph). God could have removed David in the same way He removed Saul, but David's repentance was real.
None of Psalm 51 may have happened if David had succeeded in covering his sin. Nathan's direct and unequivocal confrontation worked as a wake-up call for David, and he was able to respond in humility. Like David, we need to invite others to hold us accountable to obedience and integrity. We need others to point us to honest introspection that leads to repentance. If we persist in solo-Christianity, we miss those opportunities for reflection, repentance, and restoration. We cannot be whole without others. The author of Hebrews enjoined,
"Let us consider how to lift up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together , as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Speak the truth…because we are members of one another" (Ephesians 4:25). To the Romans he said, "Be devoted to one another in love" (12:10). He wrote to the Galatians, " If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (6:1-2).
We need community. We need disciples. We need more Nathans in our lives and we need to listen to them.
Resources:
The ESV Bible. English Standard Version, Crossway, 2001.
The NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Edited by John H. Walton and Craig S. Keener, Zondervan, 2019.
Hall, Elvina M. “Jesus Paid It All.” 1865. Lyrics. Tune by John T. Grape, 1868.
Excellent! Much needed.