Gregory Peck made a movie in 1951 called ‘David and Bathsheba’, a sweeping Hollywood romantic epic, but not biblical. While channel surfing one day, I saw a wonderful scene with King David, grabbing the Ark of the Covenant, crying out to God either David wanted to be forgiven for his sin or he wanted to die.
A wonderful and fantastic member of our family decided, in High School, to ride his motorcycle down the hallway. I asked him why he thought he could do it, he said, with a small smile, he thought if he went fast enough, no one would see his face.
David probably thought his sin was small before God, but the situation kept getting darker. David must have justified, if he moved swiftly enough, didn't sit and ponder the matter, he had enough brownie points with God. David: lived in a cave, gave up many years being chased incorrectly as an outlaw, did what God wanted, had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but didn’t kill Saul, was a national hero, had been told he was the apple of God’s eye and had been rewarded by God. If he didn’t get caught with a Bathsheba/Uriah scandal, God would probably look the other way. Especially, if David didn’t think on the matter too much himself.
The movie's fictitious earnestness, that David was willing to die for forgiveness, was interesting. God isn’t asking us to die. God really asks for genuine sorrow for wrongdoing. God is willing to forgive us. We just have to admit to ourselves, and God, what we thought might have been wrong was sin. Father God tells us no one is good but the Lord. And yet, we are adopted into his family by Jesus Christ. Jesus told sinners to go and sin no more. Jesus said in Luke 15:10
"there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Jesus wants us to remember he is the good shepherd, looking for the lost sheep.
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
<><
A wonderful and fantastic member of our family decided, in High School, to ride his motorcycle down the hallway. I asked him why he thought he could do it, he said, with a small smile, he thought if he went fast enough, no one would see his face.
David probably thought his sin was small before God, but the situation kept getting darker. David must have justified, if he moved swiftly enough, didn't sit and ponder the matter, he had enough brownie points with God. David: lived in a cave, gave up many years being chased incorrectly as an outlaw, did what God wanted, had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but didn’t kill Saul, was a national hero, had been told he was the apple of God’s eye and had been rewarded by God. If he didn’t get caught with a Bathsheba/Uriah scandal, God would probably look the other way. Especially, if David didn’t think on the matter too much himself.
The movie's fictitious earnestness, that David was willing to die for forgiveness, was interesting. God isn’t asking us to die. God really asks for genuine sorrow for wrongdoing. God is willing to forgive us. We just have to admit to ourselves, and God, what we thought might have been wrong was sin. Father God tells us no one is good but the Lord. And yet, we are adopted into his family by Jesus Christ. Jesus told sinners to go and sin no more. Jesus said in Luke 15:10
"there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Jesus wants us to remember he is the good shepherd, looking for the lost sheep.
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
<><
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