In our October issue we began to consider a record in God's word recorded in Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:1-4 1(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
David penned this Psalm at a very low point in his life. This once righteous king had sunk so low that he now was facing the consequences of the worst sins of his life. And those consequences demanded the payment of death. Did you ever wonder why David used the words? Blot out my transgressions?
If you study the Old Testament you will find that most transgressions were handled by the manner of transactions, offerings and sacrifices performed by the priest.
NIV Leviticus 1:1-5 1The LORD called to Mosesand spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: `When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that he will be acceptable to the LORD. 4He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. 5He is to slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and then Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and sprinkle it against the altar on all sides at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."
There were peace offerings, thanksgiving, free will offerings, and the like. These were offered for various reason. However there were offences that were not redeemable by offerings; that required the death penalty.
John 8:2-5 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
The Pharisees are hypocrites in every sense of the word. They are lying snakes hiding in the grass. As a matter of fact, to compare them to a snake is an insult to the snake!
Did you ever read exactly what Moses said concerning this sin of adultery? Let me show you what the scripture says.
Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Note the last part of the verse. "The adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."
Our friendly neighborhood Pharisees remind me of some of our lying politicians in office today. Half-truths, flat out lies and spin whatever facts they do have to favor their position.
Where was the man caught in the very act? Moses said BOTH man and woman should be put to death.
So my question is "Where's the beef"? I mean the man involved in this? Pharisees… sheesh what a bunch of PIGS.
All so they could trap Jesus. The point I want to make is that David committed adultery and according to the law, David was to be put to death.
Leviticus 24:15-17 15And thou shalt speakunto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. 17And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
To kill here is the same meaning as to kill in the Ten Commandments it means murder.
Here a second offence that requires the death penalty according to the law. David's response to Nathan the prophet regarding this situation is recorded in 2 Samuel.
2 Samuel 12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
David knew he deserved to die for what he did. Of all the sins David could have committed he choose the two that required death as its penalty. There was no way out for David, the law required his life for payment. David had painted himself into a corner. David was at the end of his rope.
Psalm 51:1 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."
The only thing David could do was to throw himself down before God and plead for his mercy. You see according to the Law David was a dead man. This is why David pleaded with the Lord. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
David ask God himself to intervene and blot out his transgressions. There was no other way David knew the law required his death.
Psalm 51:9-11 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Unless God had intervened, there was no way out for David, and He did show mercy and grace in forgiving David.
But likewise there was no way out for us once Adam had sinned, and even the Law offered little comfort because no one could keep all the law.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We may not have killed an innocent man or committed adultery with his wife, but we too come up short when it comes to salvation.
KJG Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
There was nothing we could do to repent and save ourselves. No law no sacrifice no offering we had no way out.
Ephesians 2:4-5 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Colossians 2:13-14 13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Acts 3:19-20 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
And there you have it. There was nothing we could do. A death sentence awaited us as it did David. No hope, and no way out.
But God who is rich in mercy intervened once again for mankind and sent His son Jesus Christ to do for us and in us what we could not do for ourselves.
This is why David prayed blot out my transgressions; this is what Christ did, the same, nailing it to his cross.
God in Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves. Now that's a merciful loving Father.
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.