Moving on from the Grief of Sin

2 Samuel 12:5, 7a, ESV

Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.” …Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

David was the man—the man whom he had just declared was deserved of death.

David didn’t commit adultery and murder because those actions aligned with his morals, he committed those actions against his morals. 

David’s actions had directly contradicted his convictions.

And we do the same thing all the time—in “little” ways. We react harshly when we believe in gentleness. We become easily angered when we believe in patience. We slander when we believe in showing grace and honor. Etc., etc., etc.

But what about those times when we, like David, have contradicted our own convictions in life-altering, “big” ways? Or what about when someone we love has done so?

When we—or those we love—have acted in a way which directly contradicts our convictions, it shakes us to the core of who we are. It grieves us deeply.

But thankfully, the Bible has plenty of examples of people of God who faced this very situation. Let’s look at just a bit of what David prayed in Psalm 51 when he poured out his heart to God in repentance: 

Psalm 51:7-17, ESV

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

…

10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

…

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

So, when we’re grieved by our own sin, may we be broken-hearted and open-hearted before the Lord. May we remember that the blood of Jesus covers all sin. May a deep desire for the presence of God flood our heart, and may we know that God can and will bring purpose from all things if we keep our heart open before him.

And, when we're grieved by the sin of someone we love, may we not withhold the grace and mercy which God so readily extends—for there might be a day when we need that grace and mercy extended back to us.