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David’s Great Sin And God’s Great Mercy
When David takes Bathsheba and kills her husband Uriah, he sins, and the Lord is not silent or indifferent to the sin. After Nathan confronts David, David says, ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ (2 Samuel 12:13). No excuses, no shifting blame. Our sin hurts others but the One to whom all our sins are ultimately directed is God. Nathan then speaks the forgiveness of God: ‘The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die’ (2 Samuel 12:13).
David’s true repentance is matched by the Lord’s forgiveness. Consequences can only last for a lifetime, but forgiveness is eternal. David’s example shows us not to take for granted the magnificent truth of God’s kindness and mercy. Psalm 51 reveals just how deep David’s repentance was.
'Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me’ (Psalm 51:10–12 NIV).
Written by Heidi Wysman
About this Plan
A series by Heidi Wysman. David was anointed king at the tender age of 17, but only sat on the throne at 30. That’s a long gap but during those years David learned how to handle crises, love his enemies, honour authority, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with his God. It was an important refining and training time. By the time David became king of Israel, his security was firmly rooted in God’s goodness and justice. God had proved Himself to be faithful time and again in the past, and now David’s confidence in God was unshakable.
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