Please read Psalm 51:14-17, Psalm 34:18
William Carey (1716-1834), known as the father of modern missions, was a British missionary who served and died in India. He was known for his humility. Asked about his own funeral service preference he stated, “Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, ‘Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” His tombstone reads “William Carey…a wretched, poor, and helpless worm; on Thy kind arms I fall.”
Davis shows similar humility in today’s text. David’s sin impacted many people –Uriah, Bathsheba, his unborn son, Family, Kingdom, and David himself. But we see that he says “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:4). Why does David say that he sinned only against God? Even though he sinned against others, as God’s anointed king he realizes the sin that he committed against God’s commands, disappointed and displeased Him (2 Samuel 11:27). He pleads with God to save him from the punishment of death (bloodguiltiness) because he knows deserves death (Ezekiel 18:20, Leviticus 24:17). He realizes that only God’s forgiveness relieves his burdened heart, mind and crushed spirit. Then David tells us what matters to God, what He really wants from man – and it’s not (soon to be broken) vows, (cheerless) giving, (grudging) sacrifices or (meager) offerings. David tells us, “16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Dear brother and sister in Christ, it is easy to say the word sorry to the neighbor who we hurt or sinned against. Our neighbor can only hear the words but does not know our heart. The only one who knows our heart is God and He wants to see true contrition in us. Contrition is a word that we don’t hear or use very often. Contrition begins in the heart and shows true humility. It means genuine and unconditional sorrow/remorse over sin, with a deep longing to repent of that sin. It involves a man’s realization that he wronged his God and he wants to make everything right with God. So let’s examine our words and deeds in light of God’s Word and humbly turn to him.
Dear Jesus, I neither know the depths of my sin and pride nor the height of your suffering and sacrifice. Please move my heart to understand my vanity and your incredible patience towards me. Forgive as I cling you and only you. Amen.
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