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(continued from previous page)
God which cost me nothing" (2 Sam.
24:18-25). We are reading David's heart. And even in the sins of
David — in times when he seemed to forget God — the divine
presence seems not too deeply buried. He ordered the numbering
of the people, against the advice of Joab who felt this was
evidence of a lack of trust in God. "And David's heart
smote him (emph. mine) after that he had numbered the
people. And David said unto Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in
that which I have done: but now, 0 Jehovah, put away, I beseech
thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very
foolishly" (2 Sam. 24:10). When he was given his choice of
punishments — two from men and one from God — he chose God,
saying, "for his mercies are great; and let me not fall
into the hand of man" (v.14). We are reading David's heart.
 His
sin against Uriah, and the taking of Bath-Sheba was grievous and
inexcusable. Bible records do not spare David in this (2 Sam.
11:); but when Nathan made David see "Thou art the
man!" David's heart again smote him. "I have sinned
against Jehovah" (12: 13). The 51st. Psalm is his cry for
mercy and forgiveness. "Against thee, thee only, have I
sinned done that which is evil in in thy sight." He
knew that all sin is, in the final analysis, against God. He
also knew that, in the final analysis, man has only one thing to
give to God — and that is himself. In Psm. 51:17 he said:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a
contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise." How
different from Saul, who seemed to think the rite of sacrifice
would do.
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Solomon's
foreign wives "turned away his heart after other gods; and his
heart was not perfect with Jehovah as was the heart of David his
father' (1 Kng. 11:4) He '"went not fully after
Jehovah, as did David his father" (v.6 . It would be a
mistake to that there was no sin in the life of David. He freely
confessed his need for forgiveness — repeatedly. But the
sacred records recognize something in his character that all of
us need to learn. Even sinful man can so love the Lord, and
devote himself, that God will take notice of that inner longing
to be acceptable in God's sight.
This
in no wise lessens our need to live faithfully, nor our need for
forgiveness. On the contrary, it puts upon man the
responsibility to do the one thing he can do
"perfectly," i.e., will to do right, "delight in
the law of God after the inward man" (Rom. 7: 22), serve
the law of God with the mind (7:25), be "spiritually
minded" (8:6). Please note — while Paul did this, he knew
his condition was hopeless without the forgiveness that was in
Christ Jesus. But without this inner resolve, this giving of
tile spirit or eart, we can not have the blessings that are in
Christ Jesus.
Paul
said, "I serve (God) with my spirit" (Rom. 1:9).
Again, "He is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2:29). Are
you a Saul — or a David?? Well know this, God reads your
heart; and even the world sees the fruit of your inner
character.
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