Cleansing
II Samuel 12 - Psalm 51

A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick


There are some names from the Bible that almost everyone knows. There's Abraham, Moses, Samson, Jesus, Peter, Paul, Mary (or was that a music group), and Bathsheba. Really? Well yes, you know Bathsheba - she was the mother of Solomon. Interesting - do we know the mother of David? Who knows the name of Abraham's or Moses' mother?

Why is it that this particular name is so familiar to us? Of course because it is connected with the sordid story of David's sin. There's no use denying it, most of us could be given the name "Curious George" when it comes to our interest in other people's sex lives, especially the rich and the powerful. David was a king, he was wealthy, and he had an affair with another man's wife - that will make the Morning News. And what's more, everyone thought David was such a righteous man who had loved God since his youth, and had done great things for God; that makes the story even more news worthy.

The plot of the story is simple. David, unable to sleep, takes a walk on the roof of his Jerusalem palace and views a beautiful woman bathing in a courtyard below. He wants her, calls for her, sleeps with her and gets her pregnant. So the King, the Commander in Chief, recalls her husband who was risking his life for his country, hoping the man would go home, sleep with his wife, and the baby would be thought to be his instead of David's. The husband foils the plan, and is subsequently placed (at the King's command) on the front lines of battle and is killed, and the only reaction from the king was a calloused, "Oh well, 'the sword devours one as well as another.'" (II Samuel 11:25) David has apparently been successful in his cover-up, and takes Bathsheba to be another of his many wives. And they live happily ever after. Not quite.

Although David had successfully hidden his sin from men, he could not hide it from the Lord who sent His spokesman, Nathan, to confront the King. This prophet was shrewd, and began his audience with David by telling a fictitious story about a rich man taking a poor man's single, pet lamb in order to roast it for dinner with a guest. Immediately David displayed his displeasure - Scripture says he "burned with anger." This is an interesting sideline, perhaps pointing out that we customarily become angry when we find out that other people are committing our sin. I can't help wonder if this may because we think a display of outrage will lessen the suspicion that we too may be involved in this sin.

Be that as it may, when David pronounced judgment on the unscrupulous rich man, and wanted to know the name of the rascal, Nathan turned on him and said, "You're the man!" But not only did he announce the guilt, he also gave the sentence, which interestingly did not include the death penalty, even though the King's impulsive anger would have put to death the rich man who took the poor man's lamb (II Samuel 12:5). We who are so strongly in favor of capital punishment need to think about this. In this case, God was willing to forgive David of two of the "big ones," adultery and murder. Could it be that God plays favorites, and let David off because he was the King, and the law doesn't apply to him the same way as it does to men of lesser position? We know from elsewhere in Scripture that there is no favoritism with God, so we must conclude that the forgiveness offered to David must also be available for others who have sinned. That's part of the Good News of the Gospel.

However, there was a sentence passed down on David, and one could suggest it may have been worse than physical death. Note the several points listed by the Prophet:

    1) There will be perpetual killing within the King's family. ("The sword will never depart from your house." II Samuel 12:10)
    2) From David's own family rebellion will come. ("Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you." II Samuel 12:11)
    3) There will be openly practiced adultery. ("Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight." II Samuel 12:11)
    4) And the worst of all, the baby born to Bathsheba will die. ("The son born to you will die." II Samuel 12:14)

Of interest to us are not so much the sin and the sentence, but the repentance, which is found in the prayer of David recorded as a song in Psalm 51. The undeniably important message is that given the proper attitude of the heart, forgiveness is available. Anyone here ever commit adultery? Perhaps. Anyone here ever commit murder? Probably not. The story of David shows that God forgives adultery and murder, and He is willing to forgive your sin and mine as long as we, like David exhibit “ . . . a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart. . .. (Psalm 51:17)

Within these two passages, II Samuel 12 and Psalm 51, there are several "C" words, which relate to this subject of God's forgiveness. We'll look briefly at the list, and then focus on one.

    1) Compassion - Forgiveness is not earned, but granted because of God's great love. ("According to your great compassion." - 51:1)

    2) Confession - There is a willingness to admit to, and take responsibility for the sin. ("Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." - 51:4) If as the heading suggests this was a song to be sung as part of the Temple worship, then this was not merely a private confession. Note too that David understood that all sin is an affront to God as well as an offense to man.

    3) Conceived - We understand with David that we are born in sin. ("Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." - 51:5) This is one place where we find the notion of original sin, which helps us understand that from our human father, Adam, we have all inherited a basic inability to do what God requires.

    4) Condemnation - When David prayed, "Save me from bloodguilt" (51:14), he wanted to be free from the perpetual guilt that would constantly be with him because he shed another man's blood.

    5) Contriteness - Actually this idea is conveyed by means of two synonymous phrases, a poetic device to bring emphasis ("broken spirit . . . contrite heart" - 51:17)

    "Broken" is the Hebrew word pronounced "shaw-bar", and means "to burst, or break into pieces, to reduce into splinters." "Contrite" (daw-kaw) means "to collapse, or to beat out thin" and is referred to in regard to what is bruised in a mortar (See Numbers 11:8 - referring to how manna was prepared). According to Samuel Chandler, "in a moral sense, [contrite] signifies such a weight of sorrow as must wholly crush the mind without some powerful and seasonable relief."

    6) Contempt - The attitude of the unbeliever who becomes aware of the blatant sin of the righteous man. ("By doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt." - II Samuel 12:14)

However, the word we want to dwell mostly on is another "C" word, "Cleanse" - forgiveness results in cleansing. This word, or the idea it conveys, is found many different times in this chapter 51, and being expressed by means of four different words.

    1) First comes "blot out" found in verses 1 and 9, which means, "to rub out, erase." This makes me think of what is done when a mistake has been made, or something has been spilled on the carpet or on our clothes. What is needed is an eraser or a stain removal operation, not merely a cover up. Have you noticed the stains at the top of the entryway steps? We could have placed an area rug there and the stains would not be visible. Instead, one of the Deacons has arranged for a professional carpet cleaner to come to take care of them, hopefully to get rid of them entirely. Remember, David's cover-up attempt didn't work, and ours won't either.

    2) Then comes the word "wash," also found twice - in verses 2 and 7. Literally, this word first meant to "trample," and had to do with a more primitive style of doing laundry. I have seen them do something similar in India, the women down by the river smashing the wet clothes against a rock, beating the dirt out, so to speak. We may not use our feet to trample on the clothes or beat them against rocks, but inside our machines there is that part called the "agitator" which mechanically, and more gently, accomplishes the same purpose. At times the cleansing process may feel like a beating, but if it produces the desired results, then we will put up with the discipline.

    3) The word "cleanse" in verse 2 and "clean" (or "pure" - KJV) in verse 10, fundamentally means "bright." This reminds us of the promise given in the first chapter of Isaiah "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'" (1:18)

    4) In verse 7 David prays to be purged "with hyssop." This reference has to do with the declaration of the cleansing of a "leprous" house as noted in Leviticus 14. When the house had been rid of infectious mildew, the priest was instructed to perform this cleansing ritual. ("He shall purify the house with the bird's blood, the fresh water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the scarlet yarn." - Leviticus 14:52) Notice that the hyssop was used, not as part of the cleansing process, but as part of the acknowledgement that it was now clean.

Some time ago, when we examined the Great Chapter John 15, we came across these words of Jesus, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:3 - KJV) We noted that Jesus later clarified that this required that His words remain in them (15:7), and when we compared this with John 6, we understood that these were not only words spoken by Christ, but also words believed by the disciples. In other words, cleansing from sin comes when we simply believe what the Word says - the removal of sin comes through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. Why is all this important to us? To provide us with peace of mind and joy of soul in this life, and the promise of eternal life in the presence of God for the next. However, this cleansing is not provided merely for selfish purposes, just so we can feel clean and someday enjoy the bliss of heaven. There are two other outcomes noted in David's Psalm:

    Others will learn righteous ways. ("Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." - v. 13)

    The people of God will be benefited. ("In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem." - v. 18)

As you know, we are at the threshold of a new year. The question is, will it truly be a "Happy New Year"?

The answer can be a resounding yes, if there is a realization of forgiveness. Throughout Psalm 51 there are repeated references to joy, gladness, rejoicing, singing and praise.

    Verse 8: "Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice."
    Verse 12: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation."
    Verse14: "My tongue will sing."
    Verse 15: "My mouth will declare your praise."

    Let's be renewed in our understanding and acceptance of forgiveness, and be filled with joy and praise to Him who has provided it as a free gift.

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