The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:1-5 ESV).

 

One of the many proofs of the truth of the Scripture is found in the unflattering honesty in describing some of the central characters. David is one of those that are not spared the unaltered truth. In numerous places we see the sin of David detailed. Remember, David is called “a man after God’s own heart” (cf. 1 Samuel 13:14). We are told the good, the bad, and the ugly of his adultery and murder. Fortunately we are also told of his repentance and forgiveness.

 

Some people are reluctant to join a church because they wonder if they’re “good enough” to belong. I have often wondered is many of the churches of our time would let King David of Israel join. Perhaps some would because of his ancestry or wealth. I’m reasonably sure the list would narrow significantly of those willing to let him be a leader in the church. Our reading today makes his need for forgiveness very clear; and, these words are written by him. They also make it clear that God heard him and forgave him “washing him as white a snow and pure as hyssop” (cf. Psalm 51).

 

We should be comforted and blessed by David’s words here. When we confess, burdens are lifted. When we make things right with God and one another, joy returns and life’s struggles become bearable. If we keep silent, trying to stuff our sin away, we find that our health, our attitude, and our relationships suffer. God may even use some drastic means to bring us around to confessing. As David learned, God may lean on us a little with a very heavy hand.

 

Our relationships must begin with a healthy relationship with Jesus, God’s Son, who shows us how to relate to one another with unconditional love. This includes being part of a church and welcoming others into it. We all have to acknowledge the “I” problem at the center of sin. And when, like David, we confess our sins, we can rejoice in God’s grace and forgiveness. If someone is forgiven by God, dare we do otherwise?