There are very few Biblical characters who we know more about than David. David’s life, from his youth to his death, is talked about abundantly in Scripture.
It’s also worth noting that this amount of information that we have about David’s life means that we get to read about his highs and his lows, his successes and his failures, his triumphs, and his tragedies.
In 2 Samuel 11, one such example of David’s failures is the primary story. David, who was King of Israel at that time, had sent his troops out to battle.
However, David didn’t go with his men like a king was supposed to do. Instead, he stayed at the palace. While that seems normal by our modern standards, in Biblical times, that wasn’t how things worked.
In fact, when countries chose a king in ancient times, they chose someone who could successfully lead the army onto the battlefield. David’s unwillingness to be in the right position led to what would become the biggest failure of his life.
One morning, while the Israelite army was in battle, David stepped up to the roof of his palace. While there, he saw a woman named Bathsheba bathing herself on the roof of her home.
Bathsheba wasn’t in the wrong in any way in this story. Most homes had tubs on the roof so the sun could warm the water. David immediately allowed his eyes to focus on the woman, leading to lust.
The events that unfolded next prove that James 1:14-16 is true when it says that lust produces sin and sin produces death.
David went back into the palace and asked who the woman was. The answer should have stopped any thoughts he had about pursuing her. One of his most trusted advisors informed him that she was married to a man named Uriah, one of David’s military members.
However, David didn’t stop his pursuit. Instead, knowing that Uriah was at battle, he sent for the woman and committed adultery with her.
The affair led to a pregnancy which David immediately started trying to conceal. He brought Uriah back from the battlefield and made him a guest at the palace.
While there, David drank with Uriah to the point of drunkenness before trying to send Uriah home. David believed he could get Uriah to go home, sleep with his wife, and then they would be able to pass the child off as his.
Instead, Uriah, even in his stupor, slept at the door of the palace. He refused to go home to relax while his brothers were engaged in a battle.
That’s when David made the darkest, most sadistic decision of his life. He wrote an order to the commander of the army, telling him to put Uriah on the front line of the battle before pulling all the other troops back.
This was a death sentence. To make matters even worse, David made Uriah deliver the letter himself.
In an instant, David went from a faithful servant of God to a man who had committed adultery and murder in the name of lust. However, God didn’t give up on David. 1 Samuel 12 opens with the declaration that “The Lord sent Nathan to David.” Nathan was a prophet, and God sent him to David to call David to repentance.
Nathan taught David a powerful parable on sin and repentance which prompted David to cry out to God for forgiveness. The result was the 51st Psalm which is one of the most beautiful prayers for mercy that we find in Scripture.
While you likely haven’t committed the same types of sins that David committed, it’s important to note that God doesn’t view sin through the same lens that we do.
While we consider adultery and murder to be “bigger” sins than some others, God simply sees sin as sin. There are no categories. With that in mind, we can use Psalm 51 as the template for our own prayer of repentance.
Pray These Verses
Psalm 51:1-4 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Psalm 51:9-13 (NIV)
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your way, so that sinners will turn back to you.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I need Your mercy. I know that You love me unconditionally, even when I miss the mark, and I’m relying on Your great compassion today and every day.
Father, blot out my transgressions, wash away my iniquity, and cleanse me from the sins I have committed. I know that I’ve failed You, and I’ve done the things that You told me not to do.
You have every right to condemn me, but Your Word teaches me that Your heart longs to extend forgiveness. God, turn Your face from my sins and blot out my iniquities just like You did for David. Create a clean heart and a steadfast spirit within me. Don’t throw me away, God. Forgive me, restore me, and sustain me.
Instead of wallowing in the shame and guilt of my failure, I will tell others of Your unfailing mercy. I ask these things in Christ’s name, Amen.
Thank God
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your commitment to forgiveness. Thank You for extending grace when I deserve condemnation. Thank You for choosing mercy when I deserve judgment.
Thank You for wanting to forgive me even when I’m at my most unforgivable. In the same way that You sent Nathan to David, You have sent the Holy Spirit to me to call me to repentance, and I embrace that offer.
Thank You for loving me and wanting to use me to teach others of Your goodness and mercy. In Christ’s name, Amen.