Regret & Submission, by King David

Psalm 51

    For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 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 you are right in your verdict
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
   you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

***

Last Tuesday here at High School Youth Group, we had a panel on Prayer. I got to participate and answer the question: "When was it hardest for you to pray?"

My answer was what I imagine David's answer would've been. I answered that the hardest times for me to pray have been when I am steeped in sin. Prayer is this relationship, this conversation between God and us; when I am messing up in my own life, I avoid God. Talking to Him feels false, fabricated. I can't talk to Him like everything is fine when I know HE knows I've messed up. I know that, if I'm going to talk to God, the first thing I have to do is repent. I have to admit fault and let him forgive me. 

Here we see David having just been called out on his sin by Nathan the prophet. David does not deny his sin; he accepts it and faces it head on. (Note: This is the adult way to handle things in your life. Accepting responsibility when you've done something wrong is a very, very good thing.) 

He then throws himself upon the mercy of God. There is a relationship here. A trust. David deeply loves God. David's sin doesn't change that fact. he essentially responds this way: 

• God, you are great in mercy and forgiveness; please direct that towards me.
• Make me clean again and restore our relationship.
• My sin is haunting me; plaguing me terribly.
• I know whatever I've done, I've done against You first and others second.
• You are completely just. I trust Your judgment of me.
• You have given me grace and the capacity for good since birth; give me the wisdom to exercise that wisdom.

David is an incredible example to us because he sinned. We all sin; it's unavoidable. We see here how to wisely communicate with God when we sin. It's not an easy thing to do, but it is a good thing.

We sing this song by Jon Foreman (singer for Switchfoot) in youth group sometimes. It is based on this verse. Let this resonate with you and empower you to come to God in confession when you need to.