David's Sin With Bathesheba: A Broken, Contrite Spirit, Part 3

Our last study ended with the prophet Nathan confronting David over his sins of adultery and murder. 

And we wondered, how would David respond? Would he order Nathan murdered? Would he deny he had relations with Bathsheba? Would he deny that he ordered her husband to be murdered? Would he cite the pressures of being King as an excuse? Would he claim he had been out on the battlefield too often? Would he say Bathesheba enticed him with her balcony bathing?

No, for the man after God's own heart remembered his first love...the LORD. David grieved as Nathan confronted him.

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13a)

David took full responsibility. Boldly he did so, knowing he would probably face death for his transgressions, as he himself suggested the death penalty for the evil man in Nathan's prized-lamb story.


And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13b)

Psalm 51 is David's response to the Lord. We see him take full responsibility: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is before me." (vs. 3) My Internet connection is failing on me, so we'll stop with David's Psalm of repentance for today. It's certainly meaty enough to reflect on for now.


51 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.

David is acknowledging the depravity of mankind here in verse 5, of which he is a part.

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

"You delight in truth in the inward being"-- God will not tolerate our lying to ourselves about our iniquities. His Spirit teaches us Truth and we are responsible for acknowledging and confessing sin.


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.


13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.


18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.