The podcast will be now released on Saturdays. Enjoy this bonus episode from Psalm 51.

 

Title:  How to Come back like David

Text: Psalm 51

Theme: How David, a man after God’s own heart, recovered after committing a great sin.

 

 

When something gets out of place, you don’t ignore it.. You don’t say, “Well maybe it’ll fix itself eventually.” No — you deal with it immediately. Because the longer it stays out of place, the worse the damage gets.That’s true physically. But it’s also true spiritually. Psalm 51 is about a believer whose life got out of place.

 

Read Psalm 51:1-3

 

It has been said, that when we read the story of David that we see that he was a great sinner, but we also see that David was a great repenter.  David is known in the Bible for his comebacks. Psalm 51 covers what may be his greatest comeback of all. 

 

"Davids Great Comeback"

 

Introduction: Psalm 51 is dealing with sin in the life of the Believer... Psalm 51:5-19

 

(When we read Psalm 51...)

 

A. Ability to Sin: Psalm 51:5; "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

 

- There is a reality that as Christians, we can still sin. A Christian cannot lose Salvation because of sin, but we can lose our Fellowship with God, each other, and the Ability to grow.

 

- The Romans 7 Tongue Twister "The things I want to do are things I don't want to do. The Things I don't want to do are the things I do."; "O Wretched man (exhausted man) that I am" "There is therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus..."

 

 

B. The Affect of Sin v. 6 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

 

- David realizes the issue was deeper than one moment with Bathsheba. The problem started in the heart long before it showed up outwardly. God desires truth in the inward parts.

 

- Sin has a way of exposing the inward person. God wasn’t just after David’s actions — God wanted David’s heart.

 

- Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh) God is not interested in the surface… He wants truth on the inside. 

 

- (Illustration) It is amazing how so many Christians, can provoke, prod, and play around with sin… and the moment: someone falls we are quick to Judge and hold on to grudges;  we are quick to want to give up; we are quick to say things like “ I don’t know what happened”; or "things happen for a reason"

 

- Difference between Sampson & Lot and Joseph and Job (UFC Example... "Idk what happened it happened so fast" 

 

- Sin has consequences...

 

C. The Acknowledgment of Sin v.7-19

- (Tell the story very briefly) 

- David committed adultery, tried to cover it up, and before it was over, Uriah was dead because of David’s choices

- God sent Nathan to speak to David about his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-7) 

- Nathan told David about a rich man who had many flocks and herds, but took a poor man’s only little lamb to prepare a meal for a traveler. David became angry at the rich man, not realizing Nathan was describing David’s own sin.

- The lamb of the story was Bathsheba. David was quick to judge someone whom he thought had stolen a lamb, but he was guilty of stealing Bathsheba.  David was quick to judge someone who he thought had killed an animal, but he was guilty of killing Uriah. 

- When we are backslidden, we tend to judge people for less sin than we have in our own lives. 

- Nathan looked at David and said … “Thou art the man”. The Man of God gave the Word of God which brought Conviction to the heart of David. “Thou art the man!”

 

This is why so many people love Psalm 51, and it's key to David's comeback. Accountability vs ownership (This is the best Biblical story on it). David was ready to hold the man who stole the lamb accountable, then he realized it was him which led him to take ownership. David acknowledges his sin and wants nothing more than to be back in Fellowship with God.

 

Realization of sin = Conviction. The Repentance (The Change of Mind) 

 

 

v.7 — David admits he is unclean and needs God to wash him

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean…”

v.8 — David admits his sin has broken him emotionally and spiritually

“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”

v.9–12 — David admits his heart is wrong and he needs restoration and fellowship with God

“Create in me a clean heart, O God… Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…”

v.13–17 — David wants to get right with God and be useful again

He wants to teach others, praise God again, and offer God a broken and repentant heart instead of empty sacrifice.

 

This is a man who wants to get back into fellowship with the Father but has fallen flat on his face.

 

This is how a man after God's own heart acknowledges his sin and comes back to God.

 

Outline: How to come back like DavidPsalm 51:1-4

 

I. Rely (Confidence) v.1

- David trusted in God (according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies)

- David believed God was who He said He was. David believed God would do what he said he would do!

- Want to come back like David? Put Confidence in God. (1 John 1:9)

- A lot of people have a lot of opinions about the things of God. Trust = intimacy. God wants you to Trust Him

- Illustration: The difference between Conviction and Shame

 

II. Repent (Confession) v. 3,4

(For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.)

- Did David sin against Bathsheba? Uriah? His Family? His Kingdom? (Yes!)

- But above all, David sinned against God. (A man after God’s own heart. He wanted to make things right with God first… the rest will follow, and unfortunately sometimes others don’t forgive)

- Want to come back like David? There was no excuse, no alibi, and no pointing fingers… David takes ownership for his sin. Take ownership for your sin.

 

Psalm 139:23,24

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

 

(Braces Brackett)

 

 

III. Rest (Pardon, Forgiveness, Cleansing) v. 2

(Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.)

- V. 7, 10 speak of this also

- David was pardoned because He went to God

- Want to come back like David? Ask God for forgiveness,

- Illustration of how we try to move on (counselling, time, acts of service, etc.) Those are all good, but above all… we need the forgiveness of God.

 

 

Conclusion:

- We looked at the Ability, the Aftermath and the Anguish of sin in the life of a believer.

- We learn how David had Assurance that God was longsuffering and forgiving, Admitted and took ownership of his sin, and was Absolved and put back into Fellowship with God. 

 

A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.