In 2 Samuel 11 we read about David’s violation of two of the most severe 10 commandments. Thou shalt not adultery and thou shalt not murder. In our reading we now shift to Psalm 51, where david confesses his sin. When we go back to 2 Samuel we find he has been forgiven. After a believer sins, he must obtain forgiveness if he is to enjoy full participation in the service of the Lord.
The message of this psalm is that the vilest offender among God’s people can appeal to God for forgiveness, for moral restoration, and for the resumption of a joyful life of fellowship and service, if he comes with a broken spirit and bases his appeal on God’s compassion and grace.
Jesus wanted us to identify with David’s guilt. Few religious leaders in Christ’s day, and few Christians today would ever identify with the guilt of adultery and Murder. But Jesus uses these two commands and says that hatred makes one guilty of murder, and lustful thoughts makes one guilty of adultery. Now can you identify?
We all must pray with David, “Have mercy on me, O God! Blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from all my sin.”