A Truly Repentant Heart: How David Dealt With Sin (Part 5)
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit -- with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
Psalm 51: 16-19
"You do not desire a sacrifice or I would offer one. You do not desire a burnt offering."
David was in deep reflection over what God truly desires in a repentant person.
Here was a man who understood the power of material sacrifice. Here was a man who sacrificed generously to God. We are reminded in 2 Samuel 6:13, "When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf."
Here’s a man who declared that "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So, David understood the power of a sacrificial offering to God. He saw it first hand when the sacrifice he offered at Araunah's threshing floor stayed the hand of God and stopped the divine wrath and plague on God's people after seventy thousand people had been killed!
But David knew that sacrifices which did not translate to a truly repentant heart were totally meaningless to God! So, he goes to the heart of true repentance: "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
We see this clearly expressed in the words of the Prophet Joel as well, "Even now declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments." (Joel 2:12-13)
The crux of the matter is that true repentance is a matter of the heart rather than pious externalities. We can kneel and raise our hands in church; we can even come to the altar and stay there for hours. But is our heart truly repentant?
As we relate to Jesus, we must each remember that our relationship with Him only comes alive in the nature of our relationship with those around us. When we sin against God or those around us, true repentance is seen by our willingness to name and accept our faults rather than argue defensively.
A truly repentant heart would not be "begged" to see and accept his faults. A truly repentant person would not be begged to apologize. A truly repentant person would be so convicted in their heart that they would willingly confess their fault without an argument to convince them. A truly repentant person says, "I am sorry" without having to be convinced to say so. A truly repentant person is never fiesty or argumentative. No excuses are made.
Like David, let's examine ourselves transparently, especially in our close relationships, and in humility ask for forgiveness when we err against one another. Both God and man will never reject such a broken spirit and a repentant heart. That is the mark of a truly repentant heart!
David was in deep reflection over what God truly desires in a repentant person.
Here was a man who understood the power of material sacrifice. Here was a man who sacrificed generously to God. We are reminded in 2 Samuel 6:13, "When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf."
Here’s a man who declared that "I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So, David understood the power of a sacrificial offering to God. He saw it first hand when the sacrifice he offered at Araunah's threshing floor stayed the hand of God and stopped the divine wrath and plague on God's people after seventy thousand people had been killed!
But David knew that sacrifices which did not translate to a truly repentant heart were totally meaningless to God! So, he goes to the heart of true repentance: "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
We see this clearly expressed in the words of the Prophet Joel as well, "Even now declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments." (Joel 2:12-13)
The crux of the matter is that true repentance is a matter of the heart rather than pious externalities. We can kneel and raise our hands in church; we can even come to the altar and stay there for hours. But is our heart truly repentant?
As we relate to Jesus, we must each remember that our relationship with Him only comes alive in the nature of our relationship with those around us. When we sin against God or those around us, true repentance is seen by our willingness to name and accept our faults rather than argue defensively.
A truly repentant heart would not be "begged" to see and accept his faults. A truly repentant person would not be begged to apologize. A truly repentant person would be so convicted in their heart that they would willingly confess their fault without an argument to convince them. A truly repentant person says, "I am sorry" without having to be convinced to say so. A truly repentant person is never fiesty or argumentative. No excuses are made.
Like David, let's examine ourselves transparently, especially in our close relationships, and in humility ask for forgiveness when we err against one another. Both God and man will never reject such a broken spirit and a repentant heart. That is the mark of a truly repentant heart!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the insights I have gained from the life of David. Thank you for allowing me to understand what true repentance is all about. Please help me to internalize and practice the truths and insights gained so that I can enjoy my relationship with you and those you have blessed my life with. Amen.