"David's Great Comeback" - Psalm 51

Episode 54

Title:  David’s Great Comeback

Text: Psalm 51

Theme: How David, a man after God’s own heart, recovered after committing a great sin.

• David is known in the Bible for his comebacks (Underdog with Goliath; Running from King Saul; Amalekites invading Ziklag;) . Psalm 51 covers what may be his greatest comeback of all.
• “King David, though a man after God’s own heart, was a great sinner. He committed adultery and, in covering it up, he committed murder. But David was also a great repenter, and Psalm 51shows us how to come back when we’re down.” -Adrian Rogers
• The Temptation (Before sin) = It’s okay if you do this…you can get away with it. The Accusation (After sin) = I can’t believe you did that… you’ll never get away with it

 

Introduction: Psalm 51 (Sin in the life of the Believer) Psalm 51:5-19

1. The Ability of Sin in the Life of the Believer: Psalm 51:5

• There is a Capability to sin
• Christians still have the Capability to sin (John 1:5-10)
• Christians cannot lose Salvation because of sin, but we can lose other things. (Fellowship with God and others; our Testimony; Ability to grow; etc.)

Romans 7:15 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

• Verse 5: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Our flesh is sinful (Man that is born of a woman is a few days… and full of trouble (Job) “In my flesh dwelleth no good thing” (Paul in Romans 7:18)

 

 

1. The Aftermath of Sin in the Life of the Believer v. 6

• There are consequences to sin

“Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.” – Proverbs 30:3

• Sinning (lying, strife, envy, jealousy, gossip, slander, etc.) does not bring forth good fruit. It does not please God.
• (Illustration) It is amazing how so many Christians, can provoke, prod, and play around with sin… and the moment: someone falls we are quick to Judge and hold on to grudges; we are quick to want to give up; we are quick to say things like “ I don’t know what happened”
• (Illustration of the drunk constantly going to bars and relapsing; the pornography addict watching sexual content; the Gossip starting a conversation out with “I love Dean, but…”)
• The Churning of milk bringeth forth butter… you are bound to sin, you are bound to suffer. You play with fire, you get burned.
• 6 “Inward parts” ( Jesus said, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh) God is not interested in the surface… He wants truth on the inside. (the more our heart is right, less we are to sin)

 

1. The Anguish of Sin in the Life of the Believer v.7-19

• There is Conviction of sin (Thank God)
• “David committed adultery and then tried to cover it up. At best, he committed manslaughter; at worst, he committed cold blooded murder” – Adrian Rogers
• God sent Nathan to speak to David about his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-7)
• The lamb of the story was Bathsheba. David was quick to judge someone whom he thought had stolen a lamb, but he was guilty of stealing Bathsheba. David was quick to judge someone who he thought had killed an animal, but he was guilty of killing Uriah.
• When we are backslidden, we tend to judge people for less sin than we have in our own lives.
• Nathan looked at David and said … “Thou art the man”. The Man of God gave the Word of God which brought Conviction to the heart of David. “Thou art the man!”

v.7 – He admits he’s Dirty

(7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.)

v.8 – He admits he’s