Rising from the ashes

When King David wrote Psalm 51, he had already slept with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah. The man whom the Lord declared to be "after mine own heart" had fallen. Nevertheless, he was privy to the Spirit of the Lord, continued to receive revelation, wrote scripture and communed with Deity.

These words, when first expressed, were not sung by a heavenly choir. They were not embellished with soft music or mood lighting nor were they intoned in lofty melodies. (In truth, such performances -- while soothing and comforting to us -- do not convey the utter agony with which these words were uttered.) They were retched from the depths of this man's soul! David's heart and mind were shattered, obliterated and rent asunder by his own guilt, loss, sorrow and shame. David had tasted of the highest heaven! Now he knew the bitterness of the deepest hell.

David didn't compose these words as a trite afterthought or as a modest proposal for rapid reconciliation with Deity. He was destitute! The king of Israel had become a pauper! He acknowledged his utter and complete failure. He had offended Heaven and, moreover, he had grievously offended himself by his own unworthiness. He was mortified by his own transgressions. He had not only offended God! He had defiled a woman he had coveted and corrupted! He had wounded the man to whom that woman belonged in marriage! Then, to cover his crime, adding even greater injury to insult, he had that man killed.

After all was said and done, David discovered that he could not restore that which was taken nor bring back to life what had been lost.

Only God can do that.

Only God can restore virtue and bring back life to the dead.

By his own misguided acts of sexual misconduct, cruel rationalization and craven selfishness, the prophet/king David betrayed all that he loved and held dear. He broke vows, violated his covenant with God, and, by so doing (and unforeseen to him), ruined everything!

Until David offered this prayer, he was not yet circumcised of heart. He had not yet learned the limits of his powers. He had imagined, after everything he had said, written and done, that he could (and would be able to) do everything, to have it all, according to his heart's desire, both in heaven and on earth!

David was wrong.

And to His Maker, who alone has power to cleanse all that is unclean and heal all that is hopelessly broken, David turned for comfort and reconciliation. Would the God of heaven reject him, even this adulterer? This murderer?

Apparently not.

David secured from Jehovah the promise that God would deliver him and not leave his soul in hell. Nonetheless, David's life, forever afterward, was shattered by tragedy and beset with conflict, struggle and family quarrels. (Hadn't it always been?) The glory of God's kingdom on earth evaded David. Building and entering into God's temple was left to another. For his murder, David's promise of exaltation in this life was forfeit.

Nevertheless, now with even greater humility, David began again the upward climb toward God and godhood. He proved that there is yet hope for all of us: that none are beyond God's grace and mercy, if they seek after Him.

We may all learn from David's experience.