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.  Psalm 51:10-15 NKJV

Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba.  As you may recall, David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba.  When he learned that Bathsheba was pregnant, he murdered her husband to cover up the adultery.  You see sin just leads to more sin.  The story of David is truly a great story and if you haven’t ever read the entire story through, I strongly encourage you to do so.

David was a young shepherd boy introduced to us in 1 Samuel chapter 16.  In chapter 17 is the story of David and Goliath where this young shepherd boy kills the mighty giant.  David goes on to become a mighty warrior who walks with God.  David was a faithful man.  The Bible tells us that David was a strapping, good looking young man.  He had a weakness when it came to women.  As you read through the story of David, you read about the various wives that he collects.  This weakness led to his downfall.

You see the devil knows our weaknesses and he uses them against us.  He uses our weaknesses to tempt us to sin.  Although, David had many wives, he saw the wife of Uriah the Hittite who was a soldier in David’s army.  David was supposed to be at war with his men, but he stayed behind in the palace.  So, he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.  He sees this woman bathing from the rooftop of his palace and sends for her to be brought to him. He’s the king so everyone does as he commands and next thing you know he finds that she is pregnant.  Oops.  Now he’s got a mess on his hands.  In an attempt to fix everything he brings Uriah back from war hoping he will sleep with his wife, but he’s too loyal so that doesn’t happen.  So then David arranges for him to be killed in battle.  Sin just has that avalanche effect doesn’t it.  We like to believe that we just commit little sins, but let me tell you something there is no such thing as a little sin.  That little white lie you told is just as bad as David’s committing adultery and murder.  This Psalm is David’s plea to God for forgiveness.  He wants to be forgiven.  He wants the joy that he used to feel to be restored.  He wants  to be a witness for others who have sinned to convert them to salvation.

In John 10:10 we are told that the thief, or the devil, comes to steal, kill and destroy.  The devil wants to steal your joy.  He wants to kill your spirit and he wants to destroy your witness.  David was a good, God fearing man.  Can you imagine the immense pleasure the devil had when David succumbed to this temptation with Bathsheba?

Have you ever felt like David?  Maybe you feel as though you have strayed too far away to go back.  Maybe you feel as though there is no hope, but I promise you that through Jesus Christ we have hope.

Know that if you have sinned, there is no sin so big that God will not forgive it.  Know that this is the way to true joy in your life.  Know that our mistakes can become our message.  Turn to God today.

Perhaps you are in close relationship with God, but you struggle with temptation.  Know that God can help you.  Stay close to Him through studying his word and prayer.  Draw close to other Christians that can lift you up and help you in times of trouble.  I have wonderful friends that I call my prayer warriors.  I don’t hesitate to send out a group text when I need to be lifted up in prayer.  Oh, if David had only turned away from Bathsheba and turned to God.

David paid a heavy price for his sin.  The son born of this adulterous affair died.  There was always turmoil within his family, but God kept his promise that a king from David’s lineage would always be on the throne.  He kept this promise through the birth of Jesus Christ who was born from the lineage of David.

God wants you to be restored.  He wants you to come to Him so that he can cleanse you. He wants you to experience the true joy that only salvation can bring and He wants you to be a witness to others. What are you waiting for?

Take time to recognize your weakness and know this is where the devil will attack.  Ask God to guard you in this area and give you strength.  You can slay this giant with God’s help.

Have a great day!