"David's Great Comeback" - Psalm 51

Episode 54

Title:  David’s Great Comeback

Text: Psalm 51

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

• David is known in the Bible for his comebacks (Underdog with Goliath; Running from King Saul; Amalekites invading Ziklag;) . Psalm 51 covers what may be his greatest comeback of all.
• “King David, though a man after God’s own heart, was a great sinner. He committed adultery and, in covering it up, he committed murder. But David was also a great repenter, and Psalm 51shows us how to come back when we’re down.” -Adrian Rogers
• The Temptation (Before sin) = It’s okay if you do this…you can get away with it. The Accusation (After sin) = I can’t believe you did that… you’ll never get away with it

 

Introduction: Psalm 51 (Sin in the life of the Believer) Psalm 51:5-19

1. The Ability of Sin in the Life of the Believer: Psalm 51:5

• There is a Capability to sin
• Christians still have the Capability to sin (John 1:5-10)
• Christians cannot lose Salvation because of sin, but we can lose other things. (Fellowship with God and others; our Testimony; Ability to grow; etc.)

Romans 7:15 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

• Verse 5: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Our flesh is sinful (Man that is born of a woman is a few days… and full of trouble (Job) “In my flesh dwelleth no good thing” (Paul in Romans 7:18)

 

 

1. The Aftermath of Sin in the Life of the Believer v. 6

• There are consequences to sin

“Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.” – Proverbs 30:3

• Sinning (lying, strife, envy, jealousy, gossip, slander, etc.) does not bring forth good fruit. It does not please God.
• (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”
• (Illustration of the drunk constantly going to bars and relapsing; the pornography addict watching sexual content; the Gossip starting a conversation out with “I love Dean, but…”)
• The Churning of milk bringeth forth butter… you are bound to sin, you are bound to suffer. You play with fire, you get burned.
• 6 “Inward parts” ( 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. (the more our heart is right, less we are to sin)

 

1. The Anguish of Sin in the Life of the Believer v.7-19

• There is Conviction of sin (Thank God)
• “David committed adultery and then tried to cover it up. At best, he committed manslaughter; at worst, he committed cold blooded murder” – Adrian Rogers
• God sent Nathan to speak to David about his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-7)
• 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!”

v.7 – He admits he’s Dirty

(⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.)

v.8 – He admits he’s devastated

(⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.)

1. 9-12 – He admits he’s Degraded

Degraded = reduced to a lower rank… His sins are in the open, his heart is dirty, and he’s out of fellowship with the Father (⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.)

1. 13-17 – He admits his desperateness – he wants to teach transgressors, convert sinners, sing praises, and give sacrifices. T

(¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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

 

Outline: David’s Great Comeback: Psalm 51:1-4

1. David’s Assurance (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)
• Illustration: The difference between Conviction and Shame

 

2. David’s Admission (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.

 

3. David’s Absolution (Pardon, Forgiveness, Cleansing) v. 2

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

• 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.
• 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:³ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;⁴ Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;⁵ Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.⁶ The Lordexecuteth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.⁷ He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.⁹ He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.¹⁰ He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.¹¹ For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

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 Pastor, Mike Barnette, for the song “All Things New.” Please support his podcasts by clicking and sharing the links below.

The C.O.D.E. of Man Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Oglxqy35Wg4m4YMfU8Q28?si=074063174e334747

The Way of Holiness Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/08UgdbUrBDZoWWnfiCYxbO?si=oG-EaQzfQMC5GN-N7NaxvA

Daybreak Devotions Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z25hqT5DNOZcwBLBXc67I?si=1f1c8f24a3e24618

Also, a very special thank you to my dead friend, Dave Compton, for the opening remarks.