Untitled Sermon (7)

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Introduction

I. David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12)

a. See slide 1: Background of Psalm 51

b. See slide 2: Rest of the story

II. The word of God came through Nathan the prophet (12:1-7)

a. See slide 3

III. Purpose of God’s word?

a. See slide 4

IV. Rest of the story:

a. David repented (at the word of God, the truth) and turned back to God

i. See slide 5

ii. Though following verses reveal

1. God forgave David

2. He still suffered the consequences of his sin

a. Lost his first born by Bathsheba and many others

iii. Psalm 51 was a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba

Message

V. Psalm 51: See slide 6

a. Purpose of God’s word cont’d: See slide 7

VI. Vv.1-4 reading

a. Here David cries out for mercy

b. His guilt, shame, and regret have weighed him down

i. He can no longer function

ii. Illustration: 45mil/gal car versus 6mil/gal truck

1. Still used by Sovereign God, but not as useful as car

c. David needs renewal, like so many of us today

i. No renewal without pain

1. Moral crisis like David’s situation

2. Illness like COVID-19

3. Economic reversal

4. Upheaval or Turmoil in our relationships

d. However, spiritual renewal = deepest…has a moral basis

i. Moral sin separates us from fellowship from God

ii. We cannot remove sin by covering it up like David

1. Or rationalizing it away (son eating in room)

2. Or me parking in no parking zones because I’ll only be there for 5 minutes

e. No matter how small or large the sin

f. We must be convicted by the Holy Spirit through His Word like David was, and…

i. (v.3) humbly confessing our sin to God

1. This is the first step to recovery and restoration

ii. Yet, notice how David approaches God in this prayer

1. He approaches God knowing who God is; He is:

a. Gracious, loving and kind, compassionate

i. You would not approach and cry out for mercy like this to a hateful person this way, but God…

1. God has always been faithful to be full of grace

iii. Therefore, God is approachable in His gracious and loving character

1. We therefore have confidence to confess our sins to him

iv. Thus, David first asks for forgiveness, for his sins to be blotted out (v.1) before his loving and merciful God

1. Then he asks to be cleansed.

a. V.3 shows that he knows his sin has stained his moral condition

i. Nothing we can do

1. No amount of good works

2. Or good deeds

3. Or in David’s case, deception, and murder

b. But only God can wash away our sins

VII. Vv.5-9 reading

a. Desire (v.6): God desires us to be restored to Him when we sin

b. And he desires us to be just like Him, like Jesus!

c. What God desires, he provides

i. God desired David to be restored to right relationship

1. He provided restoration through his word (Nathan)

ii. When convicted by Spirit, David repented as should we

d. (v.7) reemphasizes cleansing

i. Nothing in their day was whiter than snow, so David was asking something that was physically impossible in his day and time

e. (v.8) David wants to trade

i. His sorrows

ii. His guilt

iii. His shame

iv. His regret

1. For JOY & GLADNESS

v. Why?

vi. Because without pain their can be no restoration

1. God had to bring David to a point of complete brokenness

a. Of complete despair

i. God cut David down completely – conviction HS

ii. So that David would come back to reality

1. Through the truth of God’s word

a. Spoken through prophet Nathan

2. (v.8) God broke David’s bones (metaphorically)

a. David tried to put a band aid on his broken bones

i. Through deception, murder, rationalization

b. But what he really needed:

i. Was the Great Physician, God the Father.

1. To set the break and put cast on it

2. Mere human efforts

a. To cover up or hide our sin

i. are like silly band aids on a broken bone

ii. it just does not restore us!

3. Only God can restore us, and this God desires for each of us here today

3. (v.9) reveals how David wants God to look at him

a. Illustration – no longer look at me as a murderer

i. For us, no longer look at me like a divorcee

1. Or ex-gang member, or former alcoholic or druggy

ii. Galatians 6:15 – look at me like a new creation

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 likewise says The old has passed away, behold, all things have become new

b. Therefore, when we throw ourselves on God’s mercy

i. and confess and repent of our sins

1. he is faithful to forgive us of all our unrighteousness

f. Up to v.10, much repetition was seen

i. Blot out, wash, cleanse, purify, hide your face

1. David is determined to be cleansed from his sin

a. And from his guilt, shame, and regret

i. How about you? Are you that determined?

ii. If so, Isaiah1:18 will be the result through the blood Jesus shed for the forgiveness of our sins

1. And therefore Romans 8:1 also

VIII. (vv.10-13) reading

a. Word CREATE is same Hebrew word used in Genesis

i. David desires to become a new creation by the creating power of God alone

ii. WHY?

iii. David wants complete newness as a new creation

1. So that he will not fall back into the cycle of sin

a. That he has repented from

iv. This creation of a new heart can only be created by God

v. David no longer wants to sin, how about you?

b. (v.12) is a restoration that replaces guilt with joy so that we may

i. Worship

ii. Serve

1. Effectively, like the 45mil/gal car

iii. But (v.12) is a reminder that restoration only comes by

1. God’s salvation by faith alone in what God has done for us

2. And as God brings us deliverance and restoration, His joy comes.

a. We are simply to believe in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for:

i. The forgiveness of ALL our sins

c. As we humbly confess our sins through the conviction of the HS

i. Through God’s word

1. God alone restores us to joy and gladness once again

a. And will sustain us with a willing spirit

ii. WHY?

1. (v.13) so that we will be effective in our witness

a. We will share our testimony with others

i. About what God has done

1. In our lives

ii. And convert sinners to God

1. This is evangelism, but we must first be fully restored to fellowship with God

2. And fully restored to God’s joy and gladness

a. Because a guilt and shame ridden Christian is like that ineffective truck (6mil/gal)

IX. (vv.14-17)

a. Simple, David asks for forgiveness again

i. He is that DETERMINED TO BE RESTORED TO HIS GOD!

1. How about you?

ii. (v.16) ultimately, we can not use a works-based system to earn our salvation

iii. (v.17) what God really wants?

1. A broken and contrite remorseful heart

a. And God will not turn away from such a heart, not ever

b. Because God is faithful and true to his character, who is: gracious, loving and kind, and merciful

i. Therefore: Hebrews 4:16

X. (vv.18-19)

a. These last two verses are David’s prayer for his nation, Israel

i. Because broken leaders lead to broken nations

ii. That means broken American leaders = broken America

iii. But, it also means broken pastors = broken churches.

1. Thus, David concludes with prayer for his nation to be restored

a. As a result of his sin

Conclusion

I. Question:

a. Have you ever done something so bad that you think God can never forgive you, or perhaps you do believe God has forgiven you, but sometimes you still struggle with guilt, shame, and regret?

b. David committed adultery, murder, and genocide as King of Israel, and yet our merciful and loving God forgave him and restored him from a guilty, self-centered sinner to a joyful worshiper and server of God who even evangelized by telling others what God had done for him and about how gracious and loving and forgiving God was when David was at his worse.

c. Guilt, shame, and regret was destroying David, and in his attempt to rationalize his sin, he placed a band aid on his broken bones which did absolutely nothing. Only a doctor can set a broken bone and wrap it in a cast.

d. Likewise, only God, who is the Great Physician, can restore us. Will you trust God to renew and restore you today?

e. If God forgave David of adultery and murder, though not without earthly consequences,

f. Then how much more will God forgive you?

g. But, as long as you remain quiet and use David’s band aid method on your broken bones, regret, shame, and guilt will continue to rule your lives,

h. and you will continue to be an ineffective Christian, like a dull razor blade or that stupid truck.

i. Only Confessing our sins and receiving God's forgiveness and trusting in God’s deliverance through Jesus Christ restores our joy so that we will be powerfully and effectively used by God through his Spirit.