David's Cry for Mercy and Restoration

David messed up. He messed up real bad, and now there was a baby involved. We all know the story of how King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband Uriah killed in an effort to avoid the consequences and cover his tracks.

God sent Nathan to press David into the corner of conviction (2 Sa 12). The full weight of his hidden sin fell upon his shoulders with the words, “You are the man!” With his sin exposed the king repented of the bloodguilt on his hands, yet it became clear just how serious God took the bloodshed. The truth of Ezekiel’s words (Ez 35:6) suddenly became reality, “Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.” There were consequences; real consequences. From that point on David was told that the sword of war would never leave his house. That aspect of his kingship was the very thing that prevented him from being able to build the house of the Lord (1 Ch 22:8, 1 Ch 28:2-3)–the very thing he had it in his heart to do.

After Nathan’s confrontation it says that David, “fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.” During this time David wrote Psalm 51. The words we quote so often and sing, “Create in me a clean heart O God,” were uttered in the context of bloodguilt before a righteous and just God. In absolute bitterness of soul, David threw himself upon the mercy of God and pleaded for restoration.

Read Psalm 51. Retrace David’s steps as he appealed to God’s unfailing love. Seek the washing away of iniquity. Realize the offense of our sin before Him. Cry out for complete cleansing and the restoration of His presence. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God…”

Could it be that the bloodguilt on our hands is what’s preventing fruitfulness in evangelism? Does revival tarry because there’s a cry of justice that’s louder than our cry for awakening? Let’s seek the redemption outlined in Psalm 51 on an individual level, and then we will cry out for it corporately on April 26th.

Tags: Bloodguilt, David, Great Awakening, Repentance, Revival, Shedding Innocent Blood

04.17.08