True Confession

Introduction

Biblical Timeline

United Kingdom under the Kings of Saul, David, and Solomon

During the time of David being king, the promise land was expanded and Jerusalem was made the capital. The Tabernacle was established in Jerusalem.

We will be studying Psalms 51 today. However, we need to have an understanding of the event is David’s life that brought about this Psalm.

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN NATHAN THE PROPHET WENT TO HIM, AFTER HE HAD GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA.” (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.)

Therefor we will start in 2 Samuel 11-12.

David’s Sin and confrontation (2 Samuel 11-12)

David was a good King that lead the people through his faithfulness to God. He was a military leader that God used to conquer Jerusalem and make it the capital of Israel. However, the Bible is very honest about people and their life experience and choices.

Progression toward sin.

2 Samuel 11:2–4 (ESV)

2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.

David desired Bathsheba and made sinful choices and acted on them.

James 1:14–15 (ESV)

14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Bathsheba ended up pregnant. (5) David goes into action to try and hide his Sin.

Plan to hide Sin.

Call Uriah (2 Sam 11:6-13) - Call Uriah back from the battle field to be with his wife. Uriah was not willing to be with his wife because his other soldiers were in the battle.

Kill Uriah (2 Sam 11:14-17) - David sent Uriah back to the battle lines with a note for Joab that instructed him to have Uriah killed.

David marries Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:26-27) - David then marries Bathsheba and finalized him hiding of his sin. David, i am speculating, thought it was over. He successfully hide his sin and can now move on with life.

Gravity of Sin.

David thinks that he is in the clear. The issue is that David is not seeing the severity of Sin. Just because David did not get caught by humans, the affect of Sin in him and to others is still severe.

I wonder if we really sense the gravity of our sin. We work so hard to hide our sin. We will lies, cover-up, or hide our sins from others hoping we never get caught. Just because we are not caught by people, Sin is still in affect in our lives and relationship. Even if we think we have hide our sin successfully, we still are not free because we are always worried that it will come to light.

Jesus on the severity of Sin.

Matthew 5:29–30 (ESV)

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

We need to understand the severity of sin because then we will see the need to deal with it quickly. Sin affects us personally and our relationship with others whether we try to hide them or not. Sin is so severe that the only way God could deal with our sin was for Jesus to die on the cross.

When we think we are in the clear, God knows.

2 Samuel 11:27 (ESV)

27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

Not only must we understand the severity of our sin we need to understand the it is not hidden from the Lord. Not only does God know we’ve sinned, but also knows the desires and motives behind them.

Nathan Confronts David (2 Sam 12)

2 Samuel 12:1 (ESV)

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David.

Nathan tells David a story of injustice and David responds in the way expected. He was angry with the actions of the wealthy man using the poor.

2 Samuel 12:7 (ESV)

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!

Light was shines on the sin of David and all the temporary comfort of his hiding actions are gone. He is confronted with his sin and hit with a wall of emotions (fear, shame, guilt, etc).

We can relate to this because we all have sinned, tried to hide it, felt comforted in hiding it, and confronted with it.

How do we respond to being confronted with Sin?

David admits that he sinned and did not justify it.

2 Samuel 12:13 (ESV)

13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

When confronted with our Sin how do we respond?

Do we try to hide it again, justify it, get angry at the one confronting us, etc.

Do we humbly confess our sin and seek mercy and forgiveness for our sin.

David, after Nathan confrontation, was in deep grief, shame and guilt over his sinful actions. It is either in the midst of this or remembering the event that he penned this psalm. This is a great psalm to help understand the process of confession of sin to the Lord.

DAVID’S PRAYER FOR MERCY. (51:1–6)

David appeals to God (51:1–2): “Wash me clean from my guilt.”

Psalm 51:1–2 (ESV)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

David’s first reaction is to cry out to the Lord for mercy.

David is crying out for God to have mercy on him.

Mercy - to show gracious kindness v., to show gracious kindness. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Blot out - to forgive ⇔ blot out v., to forgive, conceived of as blotting something out; perhaps with the blotting out being destructive or by punishment. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Wash (2) - to cleanse ⇔ wash v., to cleanse from sin, conceived of as washing. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Cleanse (2) - to cleanse (of sin or guilt) v., to make pure or free from sin or guilt, as by cleansing. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

David is crying out for mercy based upon the character of God.

Steadfast Love - loyal love n., an unfailing kind of love, kindness, or goodness; often used of God’s love that is related to faithfulness to his covenant (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Abundant Mercy - greatness (size) n., unusual largeness in size or extent or number (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

When we deal realistically with our sin, we should cry out to the Lord for Mercy because He is loving and merciful.

David acknowledges his sin (51:3–6): “I recognize my shameful deeds.”

Psalm 51:3–6 (ESV)

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 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.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

David confesses his Sin (3)

“my transgressions...”, “my sin...”

Confess means to agree with God or others that what was done is sin. David is agreeing with God that he sinned.

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

David shows the severity of his sin. (4-5)

David is using hyperbole or poetic licence to show the severity and extent of his sin.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned...” (4)

David obviously did not only sin against God, but sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, Joab, nation, etc.

“Heb “only you,” as if the psalmist had sinned exclusively against God and no other. Since the Hebrew verb חָטָא (hata’, “to sin”) is used elsewhere of sinful acts against people (see BDB 306 s.v. 2.a) and David (the presumed author) certainly sinned when he murdered Uriah (2 Sam 12:9), it is likely that the psalmist is overstating the case to suggest that the attack on Uriah was ultimately an attack on God himself. To clarify the point of the hyperbole, the translation uses “especially,” rather than the potentially confusing “only.”” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.) “Against you—you above all—I have sinned”

“I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (5)

“The prefixed verbal form in the second line is probably a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive), stating a simple historical fact. The psalmist is not suggesting that he was conceived through an inappropriate sexual relationship (although the verse has sometimes been understood to mean that, or even that all sexual relationships are sinful). The psalmist’s point is that he has been a sinner from the very moment his personal existence began. By going back beyond the time of birth to the moment of conception, the psalmist makes his point more emphatically in the second line than in the first.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

I understand this text as a cry of the Psalmist at the extent of his sin by using hyperbole and poetic licence. as if he is saying, “I have been sinning for as long as I can remember.”

David knows that God wants truth and righteousness in our lives.

“you delight in truth in the inward being.”, “you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” (6)

God desires that we would live with honesty and truthfulness. Hiding or justifying our sin is not living this way.

DAVID’S PRAYER FOR CLEANSING. (51:7–9)

Remove his sin (51:7).

Psalm 51:7 (ESV)

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

David is crying out that the Lord would “purge” or “wash” him clean. The Lord is the only one that could cleans him from his sin.

David knows that if the Lord is merciful to him and forgives his sin, he will be clean.

Restore his joy (51:8–9).

Psalm 51:8–9 (ESV)

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

David is feeling the guilt and shame of his sin. He is asking the Lord to forgive him so he will feel the joy of God’s forgiveness and salvation.

Forgive - “Hide”, “blot out”

Joy in salvation - “joy and gladness”, “rejoice”

Ps 51.12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

There is great fear in sin and punishment. There is great joy and gladness in forgiveness.

DAVID’S PRAYER FOR RESTORATION. (51:10–12)

Restore his spirit (51:10): David wants a clean heart and a right spirit.

Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

David is asking the Lord to do changes in him to renew and restore to him righteousness.

Repentance is living life a different way from sinfulness to righteousness. David and we ask for God to do a work in us to help us live in a way that honors Him. This is asking God to change us to live righteously. (Holy Spirit, Christlikeness)

Restore his relationship (51:11-12): David want to be close with God.

Psalm 51:11–12 (ESV)

11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

David is asking the Lord to forgive him and restore a right relationship with Him.

DAVID PRAYS WITH PRAISE. (51:13–15)

Teach God’s ways to sinners (51:13).

Psalm 51:13 (ESV)

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

David will testify of God’s goodness through this to others. David will teach others through what he learned to help others return to the Lord.

This is our witness of the Gospel of God. We testify to the goodness of God through His forgiveness of our sins and restoring us. Then, teaching and encouraging others to seek the mercy and forgiveness of God.

Sing of God’s forgiveness (51:14).

Psalm 51:14 (ESV)

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

David will personally sing songs of joy and praise because of God love, mercy, and righteousness.

Praise God (51:15).

Psalm 51:15 (ESV)

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Praise - praise (worship) n., offering words of homage as an act of worship (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

David is saying that in experiencing God’s forgiveness, he will teach others and worship the Lord for his goodness.

DAVID PRAYS WITH CONFIDENCE. (51:16–19)

He knows God can forgive sins (51:16–17): David recognizes that God wants broken spirits and repentant hearts.

Psalm 51:16–17 (ESV)

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

David is not saying that God does not want the sacrifices, but that the attitude of our heart as we bring our sacrifices.

It is not the physical actions of sacrifice that is desired, but a humble repentant heart. Saying, “I’m sorry.” without a heart broken by what has been committed accomplishes nothing, but saying, “I’m sorry.” with a broken because of the gravity of your sin will accomplish much.

Broken and contrite heart

Contrite - contrite adj., feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Isaiah 66:1–2 (ESV)

1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

He knows God can fortify the city (51:18–19): David calls upon God to rebuild the walls of the city so that pleasing sacrifices can be offered.

Psalm 51:18–19 (ESV)

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

David knows that God will do good for Jerusalem, because David being the king, his sin, would impact Israel.

David is saying that Then he will do what is righteous.

When we repent we go from doing sinful things to righteous things.

Lessons from Psalms

Understand the gravity and seriousness of our sin.

Sin is a serious issue and is not to be taken lightly.

When we see and understand the seriousness of our sin, then we understand the amazing joy of God's forgiveness.

When we don't see or understand the seriousness of our sin, then we believe the forgiveness of God is no big deal.

Sin can’t be dealt with by hiding it.

Even if we think we are hiding our sin, we are not.

Sin is in our lives and will kills us.

If we think we are free from the affects or consequences of sin when we hide it we are not. We are not free from sin because we are fearful of getting caught.

We must come to the realization of the seriousness of our sin.

When confronted with our sin, we need to humbly confess and repent of that sin.

We should never try to justify our sin. “If they had not, I wouldn't have...”, “if my spouse wouldn't have, I would not have...”

When confronted, we need to confess our sins.

We need to repent of that sin turning away from it and turned to God for mercy, forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.

When we understand the severity of our sin, we are broken in heart and spirit and know that the Lord is the only one to cry out to.

We can trust in the love and mercy of God to forgive and restore us.

When we humbly confess our sins before the Lord, we have confidence that He will forgive, cleanse, and restore us.

This is the great hope of the Gospel, God will forgive and restore us through Jesus.

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.