Scripture: II Samuel 11:1-5; 12:1-7a

C.I.: The Song of a Broken Heart

God called David, “A man after My own heart,” (I Sam. 13:14) … For David knew how to REPENT!!!
Today we will listen – as David sings a song – each of us have thought of singing (and maybe today will sing)!

I. PSALM 51: The Three Cries of a Broken Heart!

A. The Cry of a Conscience Over the Conviction of Sin (verses 1-3)

1. People deal with guilt in many ways:
a. #1. Religious ritual & observance: (v. 16), “You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would
give it; You are not please with burned offerings.” – Religious ritual won’t remove guilt!
b. #2. Sorrow/Depression: (II Cor. 7:10), “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God….”
c. #3. Self-Abuse/Punishment (drugs…): (Matt. 27:5), “…and Judas went away and hung himself.”
d. David recognizes the only place one can go – the only thing one can do after sin – run to God! -
(v. 1), “Be gracious to me, O my God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the
greatness of Your compassion….” – In which direction do you run – when you sin???!

2. Righteousness is all the same – but sin comes in many forms. (ILLUST: Crooked stick vs. a ruler)
a. Notice the words David uses – to characterize his situation (show slide of vs. 2-3):
1) “Transgression” = to step over God’s boundaries; spiritual trespassing – (Mk. 15:28), “He was numbered with transgressors.” – Theft is a transgression, “Thou shalt not steal.”
2) “Iniquity” = Something that is totally wrong – (Matt. 12:11), “What man among you….”
3) “Sin” = To miss the mark (e.g., arrow & target) – (Rom. 6:23), “The wages of sin is death.”
b. David is totally convicted of his sin – “For I know my transgression, & my sin is ever before me.”

B. The Cry of His Confession and for God’s Compassion (vs. 4-6)

1. (v. 4), “Against You and You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight, so You are justified when You speak, and blameless when You do judge.”
a. People struggle with this – believing sin is not against God - but others (Uriah, Bathsheba).
b. Perhaps we would reconsider our sin (esp. “victimless sin”) – if we knew it was against God!!

2. (v. 5), “Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
a. This is perhaps – the most misunderstood verse in the entire Bible!!
b. Does this teach: David became a sinner at birth – because his mother sinned in his conception?
1) Children are not held accountable for their parents’ sin – (i.e., “Original Sin,” Ezk. 18:20).
2) Sin commences at youth, not conception - (Gen. 8:21), “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”
3) Thus, sin is learned – not inherited - (Isa. 7:15), “He will eat curds and honey - at the time he knows enough to refuse evil and choose good.”
c. This verse should no more be taken literally than v. 8, “Let the bones You have broken rejoice”
d. David is singing of a guilt that is so profound – that it covers his entire existence!!!

3. Those who looked upon David (before Nathan arrived) – could detect no faults. – But God is less concerned about how other’s see us – than He is with how we truly are!!!
a. At David’s anointing – God said, (I Sam.16:7), “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” This is where David wanted to be right, so he...
b. (v. 6), “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the inner part you will make me know wisdom.”
c. So we hear David crying out – his own confession of sin – and his desire for God’s compassion!

C. Cry for Cleansing and Communion (vs. 7-19)

1. David knows there are things that he needs God to do for him…
a. Purification - (v. 7), “Purify me with hyssop & I shall be clean; wash me & I will be whiter than…
1) Hyssop: used in the purification – Lepers (Lev. 14:4f) & one who touch dead (Num. 19:18).
2) David felt the spiritual need for purification – that this provided in a physical sense.
b. Restoration – (vs. 8, 12), “Make me to hear JOY and gladness.” – “Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation.”
1) “Joy” is the opposite of guilt – (Joy = the presence of God; Guilt = the presence of sin!)
2) All of us know the feelings of guilt – don’t each of us desire to once again feel joy??!
c. Re-Creation – (v. 10), “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
1) “Create” here is the exact same word as is found in Gen. 1:1.
2) We sing, “Give Me thy heart, says…” – what’s He want with that filthy thing?
3) God would far rather to create within us - a brand new heart – (II Cor. 5:17), “If any man…”

2. David also knows that there are things He does not want God to do…
a. Remember his sin – (v. 9), “Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities.”
1) David desires for God to forget about the sin he has committed – (Psa. 103:13; I Cor. 13:5; I Jn. 4:8), “As far east….” - “…does not take into account a wrong…” – “God is love.”
2) We need to accept God’s forgiveness – if He has chosen to forget – then so must we!!!
b. Rejection – (v. 11), “Do not cast me from Your presence, and do not take You H.S. from me.”
1) David is saying, “I don’t want to leaven You – and I don’t want You to leave me!!!”
2) Without the Spirit of God – we don’t belong to God – (Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 2:38; Rom. 8:9), “You also, after listening to the message…” – “Repent….” – “If anyone does not have….”

3. The responsibilities of those whom God has forgiven…
a. Share the message of forgiveness with other sinners – (v. 13), “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You!”
1) The forgiven – have a far powerful story to tell – (Mk. 16:15-16), “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. – He who has believed and has been baptized…..”
b. Worshipping God – (vs. 14-15), “Deliver me from bloodguiltness, O God, You God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. – O Lord, open my lips, that I might declare Your praise.”
1) Offering worship to God - is always the first response of a forgiven heart – (Acts 2:41-42)!

So what did you come here today to get… more guilt or greater joy?!!

Joy is found in Jesus (nowhere else), - the same place we find forgiveness!!

If you are looking for both Joy and Forgiveness – Jesus is waiting for you!!!