Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 51-53
Devotional Thought:
In 2 Samuel 11, we find it was a time when kings went forth to battle, but David tarried at Jerusalem. That decision to not do what he was called to do proved to be a very destructive decision in David’s life. Oh how the Devil works to get us out of the will of God. Once David was out of the will of God, the Devil began to have a heyday with him. He led David down a path he has destroyed many a Christian that has chosen to travel that path. He first got David to look at that which was forbidden or out of bounds. I have Christians tell me, “All I am doing is looking. It isn’t like I am actually doing something wrong.” The Devil knows that if he can get you to look long enough you will eventually participate. David didn’t run back into his house once he saw Bathsheba bathing, but rather continued gazing until he desired her. Once we create the desire for something wrong the only thing we lack is the opportunity. David sent and inquired about her and found that she was a married woman, but the desire was too great and he sent for her and committed adultery with her. The Devil’s trick is to get the Christian to look at sin and then desire it and then participate in it. But the last step the Devil tries to get every Christian is to hide it. David went through great pains to try to hide his sin, but Uriah proved to have more character drunk than David did sober. Here in Psalm 51 we find David over a year later when Nathan the prophet reminds David that you can hide your sin from man, but you never hide it from God. David finally wants to be right with God and confess his sin of adultery. He starts with the acknowledgement that he has sinned. Confessing our sin means to agree with God or to say the same thing. David says, “For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.” (vs. 3) David is addressing the Person who will ultimately be the one who will pay the price of his sin. He has experienced the consequences and they were necessary to break David’s pride, but Christ would ultimately pay the price of his David’s sin on the cross of Calvary. David asks the Lord to cleanse him of his sin and make him clean. Then David goes on in his prayer and asks for restoration. He desired the sweet fellowship that living in obedience brought. He did not want anything between his soul and his Savior. He wanted the joy of his salvation not just the fact of his salvation. The last thing that David prays is for God to use him again to show forth His praise. “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.” (vs. 15) He demonstrates repentance in that he now wants to be used to show forth righteousness rather than selfishness. “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness… then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness…” (vs. 14, 19) David bought the lie of the Devil and experienced the pain of its result. However, when David confessed his sin, we find a gracious and merciful God who is willing to forgive, restore, and use him to once again bring praise to the Lord. Are you buying the lie of the Devil in any area of your life? Are you at step 1, 2, 3, or 4? May we say with David, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” (Psalm 101:3)
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to be sober and vigilant regarding the lies, attacks, and danger of the Devil. Please help me to be committed to using the Word of God as my filter, illuminator, and guide for the decisions that I make.
• Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for being a God who is always willing to cleanse, restore, and use us. Please help me to show that same grace and mercy to those who wrong me.
• Lord, please help me to be humble and to desire to maintain a clean heart before you.