Our Lord so loved David for his dedication, reverence and humbleness that God had abundantly blessed King David. Yet, David committed a grave sin to which God has furious and to which David repented, as psalms 51 can testify itself. God forgave king David, for his heart was seen by God. Psalm 51 is read to reconcile and reconnect with the most high. Let me be honest, during this epidemic, we are in so much need of this psalm at this day and age. This blog is to provide a brief about psalm 51. Everything around about psalm 51 is presented, hope I could make it as interesting as possible.
Historical background
Psalm 51 teaches the nature of genuine repentance which is the reason it is used so often in the services of orthodox church. Historically, King David committed the transgression of adultery and murder. However, He obtained mercy from God because of his repentance. Many fall into sins but never come to repentance: therefore, no one can use David’s sin as an excuse to sin. For sins and transgressions in themselves do not draw down the mercy of God. Genuine repentance, characterized by such things as confession to God; inward purity and inward humility draws the mercy of our divine God.
Ps 51 is used daily in our services of Orthros, the Third hour and Compline and it is also recited in every Divine Liturgy by the priest as he censers before the Great Entrance.
The sin
The treacherous sin which made King David compose this beautifully repentive psalm. The story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittie. This happened during a war against Ammonites. A King who should have been leading the armies and commanders into battle but king David had stayed behind, this blog will be used to ellaboratively explain the sin in proper sequence.
The roofs of early Israeli house were typically flat and allowed it as a cool place to relax in the evening. David spied Bathsheba, bathing atop her house and was smitten by her beauty. He had her brought to him for the purpose of adultery. Bathsheba conceives and sends the word of her pregnancy to David.
David calls for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to be brought home from battle so that Uriah would sleep with his wife, hoping to cover his own sin in this fashion. Uriah, however, refuses to sleep with Bathsheba, as soldiers in battle were prohibited from doing so. (Levi 15; 1 Sam 21:5)
His first plan having failed, David arranges for Uriah to be sent forth to the front lines for battle and then to retreat from behind, virtually ensuring his death. David’s second plan to conceal his adultery has succeeded through Uriah’s murder on the battlefield. Hearing the death of Uriah, his wife Bathsheba mourns. Following the mourning period, David takes her as his wife and she gives birth to a son. It is clear David’s actions were evil in God’s sight.
Realization and reconciliation
It is the Lord himself who sends Nathan, the prophet, to rebuke David for his sins of adultery and murder.
When prophet Nathan came to him, he narrated a parable, “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had many flocks and herds. But the poor had nothing but one little lamb he had brought and nourished and reared; and it grew up together with him and with his sons. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveller came to the rich man. The rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare for the foreign traveller who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him”. (2 sam12: 1-6)
David listens to Nathan’s parable and then pronounces the sentence on his own head. Nathan propheises to David, saying you are the man in the parable.
There was a twofold punishment: warfare for all the rest of David’s days’ and rebellion from within. Additionally, the child born to Bathsheba would die.
King David grieved and repented for his sins. God forgave him and spared his life but he was punished. Now, this line doesn’t make sense, I know. God has laid rules for his every creation, to which planets, mighty wind, gigantic mountains, oceans, flora and fauna obey and follow. This rules are set to keep the balance and peace in check. When King David took a life, God spared his life but his son conceived by Bathsheba, was born feeble, had died. The current situation, we are in, justifies the rules of restoration and balance.
This epidemic is harming humans but the nature is recovering. The injustice, crime rate, pollution, destruction of nature all went down. God is not only the master of humans but to all the things visible and invisible. Best way to put, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap”. (kjv Gal 6:7)
Psalm 51 is prayer from a king, a prayer for us all to apologize for his/her transgression. Psalm 51 consist of parts, like it opens with seeking mercy, for our God is merciful. Later comes acceptance, accepting the sin committed with humility. Then comes heartfelt repentance following reconciliation and ends with offering. ( Observe the psalms clearly states God doesn’t need your material offering but your heart He sees, He knows you. He needs a just, a contrite heart ).
The parable of prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32) in the new testament tells us when a human sins, they drift apart from their eternal Father.
The Father who is waiting for His son, patiently at the gate, for his prodigal son’s return. Where the return of the second son, the depiction of the sinner, is celebrated with joy. So, even the return of one sinner is rejoiced in heaven. Seek God Jesus, He forgives you cause you are His child. You know what I like about Christianity than human rational minds is that the concept. The concept even you among the zillions, among this vast expanding universe, does matter to Him, the most. While the rational minds prefer making choices like, “millions can be sacrificed for billions sake”. The parable of the lost sheep, in which the master leaves 99 of his sheep to find that one small lost lamb, tells us everything about God’s love. (refer Luke 15:1-7)
This epidemic, we all should remain calm and pray in our homes. Seeking God and repent like people of Nineveh did during the times Jonah (refer Jonah 3:5-6). I would conclude this blog with quoting from Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
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