Psalm 51
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Psalms 51:1-19 (NKJV)
Five Facts About Sin
(Fallen But Forgiven)
Have you ever wondered if you could sin – so much or so badly – that God could not forgive you? Do you think that there could be sins out of reach of God’s forgiveness?
I wonder what those sins would look like. Would they be the self-centered sins – such as pride – arrogance – selfishness? Would they be sins of position – where you take advantage of someone – because you have such a great desire to get ahead or because you have a need to be in control? Would they be sins of emotion – where there is a display of anger – followed by brutality and perhaps even murder?
I think all sins are self-centered and of course they are out of God’s will for our lives. The Bible tells us:
“For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
Sin basically comes down to disobedience of God. Our text for today can be found in Second Samuel. Follow along with me as I read:
So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." 2 Samuel 12:13 (NKJV)
I think most of you remember the story of David and Bathsheba – but if you don’t let me refresh your memory – it is found in Second Samuel chapter eleven.
It happened at the time of the year when most kings went out to the battlefield to wage war. David, however, had decided to stay at home that year. One evening David could not sleep so he got up and went out on the roof to get some fresh air. From his vantage point he could see a beautiful woman by the name of Bathsheba taking a bath. He found out that she was the wife of Uriah who just happened to be off at war at the time. So David took advantage of the situation and invited Bathsheba over to his place. Well one thing led to another and she ended up getting pregnant. So David decided he needed to cover up his affair with Bathsheba and he sent for Uriah to come home and report how the war was going. After Uriah gave the report – King David made a suggestion.
He said, “Why don’t you go home – rest and relax – and take it easy before you go back to the battle?”
David figured that Uriah would go home – sleep with his wife and no one would know that he had had an affair with Bathsheba. But things did not work out as David had planned. Instead of going in the house – Uriah slept outside. Now David had a real mess. So he called for Uriah again.
He said, “Uriah – what are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to go home and rest and relax? But I understand you didn’t even go into your house! What’s up with that?”
Uriah answered, “Do you expect me to have a good time when all the other soldiers are sleeping in the field? How could I do that? It just doesn’t seem right.”
So David said, “Well come to a party tonight and tomorrow you can go back to the battle.”
Well the party had plenty of food and plenty of drinking. It seems that Uriah got full on both. He got drunk. But – he still didn’t go into his house.
So David sent Uriah back to the battle with a letter telling the general -
"Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die." 2 Samuel 11:15 (NKJV)
The general did as David had commanded. He moved the troops close to the city wall and several soldiers died that day along with Uriah. David was successful in having Uriah killed.
After the time of morning - Bathsheba moves into Davids house and becomes his wife. David’s plan looks like a success.
But chapter eleven ends with these words:
“The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:27 (NKJV)
This morning I would like to talk about Five Facts of Sin.
Fact One
1. Sin can never be HIDDEN
David tried to cover up his affair with Bathsheba – look at the out-come. It led to deceit – it led to murder.
We think that no-one will know. Yet we know and God knows. We put sins in our closets hoping that they will not be found out. Hoping they will disappear – but they don’t. Numbers chapter thirty-two reminds us:
“Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 (NKJV)
As hounds from heaven – our sins seem to follow us wherever we go.
No – sin cannot be hidden. I know – God knows – even if no one else knows at least two of us know. Covering up sin only creates more problems.
Fact Two
2. Sin is never VICTIMLESS
David was affected and infected by his actions. His actions created memories that David would carry with him the rest of his life – just as you and I carry our memories with us.
Do you think that Bathsheba was affected? – we know that Uriah was. What about the general – was he affected? - he was only following orders. What of the other soldiers that were killed because of the plot - were they affected? – their family members were affected too - even though the Bible does not mention that fact. And what of the pregnancy? What of the baby? What happened there? Did I tell you what happened with that? The baby died.
You see sin has consequences.
The Bible says, “You reap what you sow.”
When sin comes into the picture - people get hurt. We know - because we all have been hurt. We are all victims in a world where there is sin.
Fact Three
3. Sin is never INSIGNIFICANT
Folks here is a fact: God Hates Sin
It does not matter whether it is a “big” sin or a “little” sin. God hates sin.
Why? Because He is totally pure. He is totally clean. He is totally holy. Any minute partial of sin – He hates. If God even had a dust speck of sin – it would mean that He is not totally pure. The truth of the matter is – that there are things in our lives that we put up - that we accept as normal - that we allow into our lives - that He despises. A little lust – a little dishonesty – a little rudeness – a little arrogance - a little pride – we think is OK - but it is still impure and unholy.
Let me illustrate this concept in this way. Say that I have a bottle of water here and I say, “I have this water for you – it is good – it is only 50% contaminated.” Would you drink it?
What if it was only 25% contaminated?
What if it was only 5% contaminated?
Folks I don’t know about you but when someone tells that the water is contaminated – I could care less what percentage that water is contaminated. I am not going to drink it. It is impure. It is un-clean. It is unfit for human consumption. It is contaminated. I need to leave it alone. If I drink it I am putting something un-clean into my body. I do not need to drink contaminated water.
Did you know that Jesus taught on this subject when He said:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ’You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV)
Why would He say such a thing? Because even our lustful thoughts contaminate our lives. They make us un-holy. They make us un-clean. God’s desire for you is to be pure and holy. He wants you to be clean. He wants you to live a pure life. Sin is nver the standard God has for you and sin is never insignificant.
Fact Four
4. Sin is never FORGOTTEN
I am aware that this point can be somewhat controversial – because I know that there are ministers out there that say, “God forgets your sin.” I for one do not find this concept in the scriptures. I know for one – that I don’t forget many of my sins. There are sins that haunt me – just as I think there are sins that haunt you too. I wish I could forget them - but they always seem to be lurking in the shadows. I wish that they could be forgotten.
I also don’t think that God has holy amnesia. I don’t think He forgets anything. He remembers everything – He remembers it all - but when He forgives He treats me as if He has forgotten it. The Bible says:
“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12 (NKJV)
God treats me as though I am pure – as though I am holy – as though I am His child – as though I am a prodigal son – coming home from a pigpen – with the smell of pigs still on me. God does not mention the smell - He ignores it - He accepts me – and He loves me. Has the smell gone away - No! - but He treats me as if I did not stink. He takes me and He cleans me up. He washes me! In the book of Hebrews God says:
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
I do not think this is absent-mindedness. I do not think this is a situation of God’s forgetfulness – but it is an act of God’s will – to put our sins out of His memory. I like the way the Bible in Basic English puts it:
“I will have mercy on their evil-doing, and I will not keep their sins in mind.” Hebrews 8:12 (BBE)
God is not absent minded. He is not forgetfull. He remembers all things. But with His forgiveness – He has chosen not to keep our sins on His mind. He tells us that when He forgives our sins - He will never bring them up again - they are gone - they are not on His mind.
My sin is not forgotten – it is forgiven. God does not Forget – He Forgives
That leads me to Fact Five
5. Sin is never beyond God’s FORGIVENESS
Lust – adultery – lies – murder – such is one as was David – yet God forgave him. God does not ignore our sin – He does not shove it in a closet – or sweep it under a rug - He deals with it.
Does sin bother God? – more than it does you and I - and because it bothers Him so much – He did something about it. He sent His son to die in our place. For you see all sins need to be punished. All sins need to be accounted for. That is why God sent His son to be punished for the sins of the world. To die for your sin and my sin. To take on our punshment. To die in our place. Jesus came to take your punishment upon Himself – and suffer die for you.
Folks that is what the sacrifice of Jesus is all about. He died as a punishment for your sin. He died so that you don’t have to be punished. But here is the catch – you have to accept the fact that Jesus died for you.
In 1830, a man named George Wilson was convicted of killing a government employee while robbing the U.S. Mail. He was tried and sentenced to be hanged. Andrew Jackson, then the President, issued a pardon for Wilson, but Wilson did a strange thing: he refused to accept the pardon and no one seemed to know what to do.
The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall and he concluded that Wilson must be executed. Chief Justice Marshall said, “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.” George Wilson was hanged - the pardon was not accepted.
God offers you pardon – God offers you forgiveness. The penilty for your sin has been paid - but you have a choice. You can either accept it or reject it – the choice is yours. David sought out God’s forgiveness. David acknowledged his sinfulness when he said:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” Psalms 51:1-2 (NKJV)
How about you? Will you seek God’s forgiveness today?
(I want to thank Brian Matherlee for the sermon starter ideas)
Note: After preaching this sermon I realized I needed to expand point four. I have done so by adding a scripture from Hebrews. I hope this helps clear up this point that - Sin Is Never Forgotten. When we are forgiven - God places our sin out of the for-front of His memory - but He knows all of our sinfullness - and forgives us anyway. Blessings.
