Psalm 51:16-17 King James Version (KJV)
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Lord, sometimes we can be so greedy, not content with the blessings you have bestowed upon us. We could have houses, cars, the husband, wife, servants, good health, great children, degrees, awesome job, but still want and desire what belongs to someone else.
Our greed can be so intense at times that we will go to great extremes to fulfill that burning desire, called lust. At the time we are so focused on what we want that we neglect to fully evaluate the consequences of our actions until it’s too late.
This is what Psalm 51 is about, King David’s cry unto God after he gave in to the lust of his flesh. Here David was King and head man in charge of Israel. He was such a powerful man, that he could’ve had any single woman he wanted, but out of nowhere, he let his flesh get the best of him. The very thing that he lusted for and desired belonged to another man, yet something within him would not allow him to resist the temptation. The Bible makes no mention of whether he contemplated the repercussions initially. However, we do know that he gave in to his flesh.
Sadly, the story doesn’t have a happy ending, because as many of us can attest, sin will take you further than you ever intended to go (as a popular Evangelist would say). In 2 Samuel chapter 11 the full story of David and Bathsheba is recounted. There it tells us that David went to great measures to conceal his sin by committing murder, deception, etc. which all were displeasing to God.
Not once did David go before God to openly repent and admit his sinful actions, instead he used his powerful position to conceal the matter. David did eventually repent, and God forgave him, but it took the Prophet Nathan making him take a hard look in the mirror at self to realize what he had done to himself and others. By then it was too late because God chose to take the life of the child David and Bathsheba conceived.
I believe God was angered most because David showed no remorse initially and tried to cover up his sin. It also angered God that David was ungrateful, as God had blessed him with so much, yet he was still not content. He took a shepherd boy, an adversary to Saul; spared his life and made him King over thousands, but even this was not enough for David. God was hurting because basically David was telling him, he was God and didn’t need God to be King in his life.
There was nothing David could have given God that was tangible, he just wanted to see that David was sorrowful and remorseful. He stood behind the scenes watching and waiting to see if just one-time David would utter the words “God I’m Sorry” but each time sin was committed, there was more silence.
Then God had to intervene and say enough was enough. As I type this devotional I wonder if that is what God is saying to us in 2020? That “enough is enough” too long we have been taking matters into our own hands, not caring or taking regard to what God thinks, instructs, or demands.
Is he getting us to the point where we will also have a Psalm 51 prayer and cry? Do we think that we can give God our money, occasional praise, and worship through lip service, charity and community service, and think this will keep us in good graces with God?
God is showing and telling us in this day and age that he requires and wants so much more from us. Too long he has allowed us to do things our way. Giving in to our flesh and carrying about like we have done no wrong. He can only allow us to conceal sin for so long. Until he pulls the covers back and exposing our sin as he did with David. He told David you did it in secret but, what I’m going to do unto you will before all of Israel (2 Samuel 12:12).
You have the opportunity right now to make a clean slate. Let’s not get to the point where we are too arrogant and prideful to humbly admit our sin to God. Why wait for God to expose you and make matters worse? When you have the opportunity now to confess and start anew. Cain also tried to cover up his sin when he murdered his brother, but again God punished him as well (Genesis chapter four).
David’s story pricked my heart because I believe God is trying to get our attention, and he longs for us to get things right, today before it’s too late. God is a forgiving God, but for him to take a step to rectify your situation, you must first come clean and repent for any actions that are displeasing unto him.
God is ready and he wants to redeem you. He wants you to know that there is nothing that would ever make him turn his back on you. All he wants to hear is “God I’m Sorry”. When he sees the brokenness in your heart and spirit, that is when he performs his best miracles. Don’t worry about giving God anything, other than your humbleness and emptiness, and allow him to pour into you and make you brand new.
Lord, I pray for my brother and sister today who have committed sins against you. Lord, I pray that you humble them and cause them to repent and seek you for forgiveness. Let them know that you as their Father stand with open arms, ready and waiting to set them free from all bondage, and cast their sins in the sea of forgetfulness. In the Name of Jesus Amen.