Cleanse me, O LORD

https://odb.org/MY/2023/07/12/wash-me

I think it is highly commendable that the Bible writers wrote the story of King David and Bathsheba as it is without censoring or modifying or even concealing it to put David in a better light. After all, David was and is still the pride and joy of Israel – even our Lord Jesus Christ identifies and traces his ancestry to the house of David!

What David did as an absolute monarch with power only second to God was hineous and despicable, and while David suffered the consequences for his sin (he lost a few of his sons, including Bathsheba’s first son with him), God forgave him when he repented from his sin. The Lord nevertheless loved him and continued his lineage through his son with Bathsheba, Solomon, who became the wisest King ever from Israel, and it is from this lineage (tainted as it was) that God chose to bring His only begotten son to this world to be the Lamb of God for humanity.

The story of David and Bathsheba speaks of the brokenness of the human flesh that corrupts even the greatest among us but also speaks of the forgiveness, compassion, and love of God. Psalm 51:1-7 depicts the anguish and remorse David felt when confronting God with his sin in repentance. It’s an excellent model for us to follow if we ever need to repent before God for our own sins and wrongdoing. Cleanse me, O Lord, my Father in heaven – wash me clean as snow.

We thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to this world to die for our sins that those of us who believe in Jesus will not perish but may have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus became the Lamb of God to wash us clean as snow that we are completely unblemished as we enter into His presence. The blood of Jesus is the basis for us seeing God face to face in worship. It’s all only possible with the blood of the Lamb shed on the cross of Calvary.

Know this morning that God loves us like He loved David, and if we repent and turn away from our wicked ways, He will forgive us like He forgave David. He will cleanse us to be white as snow – we need to repent and return to Him – He is gracious and compassionate and will forgive us.