11/11/2015 King-Size Failure! The Bible (2 Samuel 11) documents the - - PDF document

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The Bible (2 Samuel 11) documents the untouched-up story

• f David's embarrassingly awful sin.

King-Size Failure!

Psalm 51

(opening title before verse 1)

In the aftermath, David writes a song or two about it!

For the choir director: A Psalm of David… after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

We sin because we are sinners. Our failures are not freakish!

Human Beings Sin!

Psalm 51:5, NLT

For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

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• Transgressions: We go beyond the line!

Sin Synonyms

Psalm 32:1-5; Psalm 51:1-3

• Sins: We fall way short of the line!
• Iniquities: We twist straight lines into crooked ones!

The Effects of David's Cover-Up

Psalm 32:3-4, NIV

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

A stubborn refusal to own up to his own sin brought upon him a spiritual depression.

David's Uncovers His Cover-Up!

Psalm 32:5, NIV

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and DID NOT COVER UP my

• iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord."

Tired of God's heavy hand, David opens his mouth in confession!

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…I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so YOU ARE RIGHT in your verdict and justified when you judge.

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An Old Testament Beatitude

Psalm 32:1-2, NIV

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are COVERED. Blessed is the one whose sin does not count against them…

When David stopped trying to cover up his sins, God covered them with his forgiveness!

Psalm 32:5, NIV

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the GUILT of my sin.

True Confessions!

Psalm 32:2; Psalm 51:10 & 12, NIV

Blessed is the one IN WHOSE SPIRIT IS NO DECEIT…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT within me…Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a WILLING SPIRIT to sustain me.

David was sincerely sorry for his sin—sorry enough to want transformation as much as a pardon!

"Let's Sing About My Failures!"

Psalm 51:13, NIV

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

David wrote these penitential psalms to remind God's people that it's much better to have God cover our sins than covering them ourselves!

Psalm 32:11, NIV

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart.

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Prayer of Confession

Most holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven. Have mercy upon us, Lord.

Prayer of Confession

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit. Have mercy upon us, Lord. We confess to you our unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives. We confess to you, Lord,

• ur self-indulgent appetites and ways,

and our exploitation of other people.

Prayer of Confession

We confess to you, Lord,

• ur hurtful angry outbursts, our unbridled lust,

and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves. We confess to you our greedy love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work. We confess to you, Lord,

• ur negligence in prayer and worship,

and our failure to share our faith with others. We confess to you, Lord. Accept our repentance, Lord.