2006-11-05_A Broken and a Contrite Heart_SL
A Broken and a Contrite Heart
Various | Shaun LePage | November 5, 2006
I. Introduction
A. Topics came up during FBC: Humility, Dependence, Obedience, etc. Foundations of Prayer.
B. Keys to Personal Revival. Tim St. Clair
II. Body—Two Sinful Men
A. Saul—1 Samuel 15
1. 1-3: Samuel gave Saul instructions: Punish Amalek (Ex 17 promise) “utterly destroy.”
2. 8-9: Saul did not obey. Kept “all that was good” and destroyed “despised and worthless.”
3. 10-31: Samuel confronted him; Saul made excuses; God “rejected” and “regretted”
B. David—2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51
1. Ch 11: David sinned with Bathsheba, Bathsheba reported pregnancy, David killed Uriah
2. Ch 12: (Read 1-15) Why didn’t David lose the throne? His heart! “I have sinned”—same words as Saul, but no excuses.
3. Ps 51 (notice intro/part of text)
a) David understood what he needed: forgiveness (1-2). Basis: God’s “lovingkindness” and “compassion.”
b) David understood himself—sinful (3-5). Agreed with God—“Your sight / justified.”
c) David understood God:
(1) desires truth and gives wisdom (v.6);
(2) only one who can purify and wash (v.7);
(3) only one who can restore joy (v.8);
(4) is able to erase sin (v.9);
(5) able to clean hearts and renew strength (v.10);
(6) David understood how precious God’s presence is (v.11);
(7) that God is the source of true joy and a willingness to obey; and without this work in us, we cannot serve Him with any success (v.12-13);
(8) God is the only Deliverer from sin (v.14);
(9) and that God is not interested in the praise of those with unrepentant hearts (v.15);
(10) Verses 16-17 are the opposite of what Saul said. Saul said, I disobeyed so I could make a sacrifice. David said, You don’t care about sacrifice unless my heart is right. What is “broken spirit…broken and contrite heart” (v.17)?
(a) Is 66:1-2. Who does God “look to” (fellowship)? “Humble and contrite of spirit,and who trembles at My word.”
(b) Is 57:15. Who does God “dwell” with (have fellowship with)? Contrite (repentant) /lowly. Why? “To revive” the spirit/heart.
4. Two observations:
a) Neither man was able to hide his sin. God knew and told Samuel and Nathan.
b) David’s sin was worse than Saul’s, but their heart response made all the difference in the final outcome.
III. Closing—Two Questions to ask yourself:
A. Am I more like Saul or David?
1. Saul lied and said “I have obeyed.” David was honest and said “Against You, God, and You only I have sinned.”
2. Saul tried to cover up his sin. David acknowledged his sin.
3. Saul blamed others. David accepted responsibility right in front of his own servants.
4. Saul was worried about what others might think and said “Honor me before the people.” David repented, fasted, stretched out on the floor before God and refused to get up when his elders tried to raise him up.
5. Saul struggled with the fear of man. David feared God and said, “Don’t take your presence from me.”
6. Saul lost the kingdom. David’s kingdom was established forever.
B. Am I broken?
1. Is it only the worst of sinners—like David—who need to be “broken”?
a) “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (42:5-6; NIV). Who said that? The town drunk? An adulterer and murderer like David? No, Job! First verse of Job tells us Job was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” God spoke to Job and he got a fresh glimpse of God and came to understand his own sinfulness like never before.
b) “My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of a sinful race.” (6:5; NLT). Who said that? An idolater? A thief? Isaiah, the great prophet. Why? He saw God high and lifted up and came to understand his own sinfulness like never before.
c) “I am the least of all…the foremost among sinners.” Who said that? Paul! The man used by God to write 13 New Testament letters. A man who walked with God and served Him as well as any man in history. Why? He was given a revelation of God in heaven and came to understand his own sinfulness like never before.
2. Revelation 3:14-22. Do you see yourself as “in need of nothing” or “poor, miserable, blind and naked”?
3. Do you think of your sin as no big deal? Who does God “dwell” with (have fellowship with) according to Is 57:15? Contrite (repentant) /lowly. Why? “To revive” the spirit/heart. It is not so much our sin as the response of our hearts that determines our relationship to God.
4. 1 John 1:8-10. We all have sin. To be broken is not to cry buckets of tears over your sin, but to repent. To change—as an act of your will. When our spirit is repentant, and we understand who we are before God and can honestly say and pray, “Your will be done,” we are broken and God will bring revival to our hearts.
B. Pray.
C. Celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Include 1 Corinthians 11:27-32.