Introduction to Psalm 51

Background

Likely everyone who reads this article will have heard about the story of David and Goliath. Believers and nonbelievers alike have heard of or read about how David, against all odds, defeated the giant with a stone and a slingshot. The “David vs Goliath” analogy is used often in sports to describe the stark difference in size and power. As we all know, David, the underdog, defeated Goliath because of his faith and trust in God (1 Samuel 17:45-50)

David was a man who stepped out in faith. He did not doubt that God would be with him. Unfortunately for David, he had to go through a time of running. King Saul chased him relentlessly with the aim of murdering him because God had ordained David to take over the kingship.

As David ran, he remained faithful to God. He was not perfect, but he was obedient. He relied on God and on God’s strength, not His own. After several years of running, David finally became king over Judah, and then, after another seven years, he became king over all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:5).

When David came to power he still remained faithful. He knew that God had brought him through his trials and difficulties, not him or his mighty men. He began his kingship well, defeating the Philistines (2 Samuel 5:17-25) and the Ammonites and Syrians (2 Samuel 10:1-19), showing kindness to Mephibosheth, one of Saul’s descendants, when typically a king would murder all descendants of the former king (2 Samuel 9), bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-23), and even making plans to build a temple for the Lord and receiving the unconditional Davidic covenant from God (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17).

But then, somewhere along the way, David’s heart began to drift. We don’t know when or how, but we know that it did, because in 2 Samuel 11 we see a culmination of great wickedness. If you are walking with God daily, and you are confessing and repenting of sins on a regular basis, you will not reach this level of sinfulness. That is why Paul says we need to “die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). That is another topic for another day though.

David stayed home from battle at “the time when kings go out to battle” (2 Samuel 11:1). As he was walking around on his roof he saw a beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:2). Instead of looking away, he kept looking and then asked his men who she was (2 Samuel 11:3). Perhaps he hoped she was unmarried and he could add her to the array of wives he already had (we know he had at least six at this time based on 2 Samuel 3:2-5); however, once David found out she was married, he took her anyway (2 Samuel 11:4).

David planned on this being a one-time adulterous act, but then Bathsheba told David that she was pregnant (2 Samuel 11:5). Now David had a decision to make. Should he repent before God and admit his sin to his people or take matters into his own hands? He chose the latter, diving himself deeper into his own sin.

David told Joab to send Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, back from the battle (2 Samuel 11:6). His plan the first night was to send Uriah to his home to sleep with his wife (2 Samuel 11:8). Then, once the baby arrives, the assumption is that it is Uriah’s. However, Uriah was unwilling to go, wanting to be back in the battle with his fellow soldiers (2 Samuel 11:11). The next night, David tries to get him drunk and go back to his home; however, Uriah still wouldn’t go back home (2 Samuel 11:13).

Now David is desperate. If he pushes Uriah any further to go home it will seem suspicious, so instead he writes a note to Joab. In this note, David essentially tells Joab to put Uriah at the front of the battle lines and retreat from him so that he is killed (2 Samuel 11:15). To do so, other men would need to be with Uriah too (something David surely knew) and would also be killed. Once David had written the letter, he gave it to Uriah, who then carried his own death warrant to Joab (2 Samuel 11:14). Joab does not hesitate to do as David has commanded and soon sends back word that Uriah has perished (2 Samuel 11:17).

David went from a lustful look to murder in a few short days. He buried himself deep into sin to try and cover up his adulterous act. This man Uriah was one of his mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39), one of those men who was with him when he was running from Saul. He was a loyal friend. David did not care. He wanted Uriah’s wife and he took her, and when Uriah was too honorable to go home to Bathsheba, David killed him. Bathsheba mourned for her husband, and likely had no idea what David did. Surely she wouldn't have expected the righteous King David to murder one of his closest friends.

After David defeating Goliath, David’s act of great wickedness is probably the next most commonly known event in David’s life. It is a shame that this man, a man known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), would be remembered for this act, but he is. But what I want to look at in this series is what happened after this act.

In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Naaman comes to David about a year after Uriah’s death. He tells David a parable about a rich man who had everything, but took a lamb from a poor man, the only lamb that the poor man had and one he cherished dearly. The rich man slaughtered and used this lamb to feed his guests. David was enraged and said this rich man ought to be killed and Naaman tells David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). David had everything, but yet he wanted more, and selfishly took his friend's wife as his own with no disregard for him. He was the man!

David’s eyes were opened, and he finally confessed his sin. That confession is shown in Psalm 51 and that is what we will look at in this series. David sinned greatly, but he confessed, repented, and sought forgiveness. That is key to the Christian walk. If you look at the life of Saul and David you see two men who made bad mistakes, and in truth, David’s were worse. But one confessed his sin and one did not. God used the one who repented and did not use the prideful man who refused to admit his mistakes.

I hope this series will be a reminder of the importance of repentance. We all mess up; we all make mistakes. David committed some of the worst sins imaginable, and yet when he confessed he was restored. The same is true for you and me. When we sin, we must not try and cover it up, and we must not believe we have strayed so far that God’s grace cannot reach us. We simply need to be broken over our sin, confess it before God, and turn from it. David gives us a great example of genuine repentance that we can follow. I hope you will join me as we dive into Psalm 51!

Follow Us on Social Media!