0440. David Said, "I Have Sinned"

David Said, "I Have Sinned"

"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight" (Psa_51:4).

David had sinned very grievously. He had ordered Joab to place Uriah in the front of the battle, where death would be certain. Then, when Uriah was slain, he had married Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. This sin of David was very grievous. He brought heavy reproach upon the name of God. He sinned most heinously.

Nathan, the Prophet was sent of God to reprove David. Nathan told David the story of the ewe lamb and then with startling directness, said: "Thou art the man." David cried, "I have sinned."

Some may wonder why Pharaoh and Saul and Achan and Balaam and Judas said, "I have sinned" and perished; and why David, who had sinned as grievously as any of the others said, "I have sinned" and immediately Nathan the Prophet said, "Thy sin is forgiven thee."

In considering this, it must be remembered that the sorrow of the five first mentioned was manward; they all said, "I have sinned," but they manifested no sorrow toward God. David cried, "Against Thee and Thee only have I sinned." The only confession of sin that God can accept, is a confession of sinning toward God.

It is most interesting to read the 3d Psalm, where David seems to be recounting the story of his forgiveness. He says, "I cried unto the Lord with my voice and He heard me out of His holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awakened; for the Lord sustained me. * * Salvation belongeth unto the Lord."

How blessed it is that we have a merciful God, Who is longsuffering to usward, Who is not willing that any should perish. When any one saint or sinner confesses his sins and forsakes them he will find mercy with the Lord, and with our God, Who will abundantly pardon. But repentance must be genuine and sorrow for sin must be Godward.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR