4.12.39 8.23.2020 David Teaches us how to repent! 2 Samuel 12, Psalm 51, Psalm 32

Sin's Twisted Tale

Entice: Last week we examined the tale of David's greatest sins. We have thought about his failures for a week. Today we look at the next chapter in that twisted tale. The chapter where David begins to reckon with, wrestle with, and repent from his sin.

Engage: I've been there. You have as well. It becomes difficult to look in the mirror. You don't want to call your friends. You don't want to be around those who know you because they will be able to tell something is wrong. They will hold you accountable.

Expand: Nathan comes to David. He was like the court Chaplin, an employee of the royal court there to help the King and his men interpret and apply the Law. He had a new story. After the months had passed, after a child was born, after David had come off looking like a benevolent hero rescuing a grieving widow-Nathan comes to blow a gaping hole in Davids delusions of arrogant, assuming, sinless grandeur.

Excite:

We might not fall as far as David...

but we can fall just as hard.

Our story may not involve an entire nation. Our story may not include the weak and witless. Our story might not instigate rebellion. Our story might be impotent and uninteresting. As sinners in need of Grace our story already echoes the fall of David; and we should make absolutely sure that it reflects the restoration of David. God's graciousness in Jesus is the basis for all Biblical salvation to all those who have been, are, and shall be saved. The faith God rewards cries from a broken heart.

Explore:

The Story of forgiveness does not liberate us from the consequence of sin but from the burden of guilt and condemnation.

Explain: We act out the same tale in our lives. We each must climb the ladder of redemption rung by rung; both being helped and helping others. As Nathan helped David climb and then David taught others to climb.

TheFirst Rung...

1. Rebuke.

2 Samuel 12:1–13 ESV

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.

1.1. Emotional.

1.2 Intellectual.

Deception, Deflection, Detection.

1.3 Volitional.

I Sinned

2. Repent.

Psalm 51:1–12 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! 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. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 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. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 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.

2.1 Petition.

2.2 Confession.

2.3 Submission.

3. Restoration.

Psalm 32:1–11 ESV

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

3.1 We experience Confirmed promises.

vv. 1-2

3.2 We engage in a Complicated process.

vv. 3-5

3.3 We enjoy Continuing progress.

vv. 6-11

Big Sin-Big Salvation

David's story resonates because we have all been there. Maybe not to the degree, generally not of the same kind. David sets the bar pretty high for us normal run-of-the-mill children of the fall. If he can be forgiven, if he can find God's grace then surely we can as well.

The pathway is clear. We have all sinned. When we accept that, when we understand our situation we can come to God in penitent surrender and through His grace He will restore us to His Good favor.

The New Testament process requires

Understanding our sin through the gospel

Recognizing our sin through repentance

Owning our sin through confession.

Dieing to our sin through baptism

Living beyond our sin through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

Maybe it's time to put the ladder of redemption up against your house of sin...and begin the climb.