The story is told of a group of salmon fishermen who gathered in a Scottish inn after a long day of fishing. As one was describing a catch to his friends, his arm swept across the table and knocked a glass against the wall, shattering it and leaving a stain on the white plaster surface. The man apologized to the innkeeper and offered to pay for the damage, but there was nothing he could do; the wall was ruined. A man seated nearby said, Dont worry. Rising, he took a painting implement from his pocket and began to sketch around the ugly stain. Slowly there emerged the head of a magnificent stag. The man was Sir E. H. Landseer, Scotlands foremost animal artist.
David, Israels illustrious king who penned Psalm 51, brought shame on himself and his nation by his sins. He committed adultery with the wife of one of his friends and engineered the death of that friendboth deeds worthy of death. It would seem his life was ruined. But he pled with God: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (v. 12).
Like David we have shameful acts in our past and the memories that accompany them, recollections that taunt us in the middle of the night. Theres so much we wish we could undo or redo.
There is a grace that not only forgives sin but also uses it to make us better than before. God wastes nothing.
INSIGHT
David wrote Psalm 51 in repentance for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba; his deliberate actions that led to the death of her husband, Uriah; and ultimately his sin against God (v. 4). Psalm 32, also penned by David, is similar in that here too he writes from his own experience on the pain of unconfessed sin and of the blessing of repentance. Even as Christians we will sinand sometimes again and again. At such times, if we stubbornly refuse to confess our sins, we feel the effects of the sin eating away at us spiritually, mentally, and physically (vv. 34). Why? Not because weve lost our salvation, but because weve driven a wedge between us and our holy God. When we come to God in sorrow for our sins and receive His forgiveness, the joy of [our] salvationthe joy of being in an intimate relationship with Godis restored (51:12; see 32:12). In both psalms, David illustrates that confession and repentance lead to Gods forgiveness, which leads to a restored relationship, which leads to great joyand enables us to sing! (32:11).
When have you experienced restored joy after confession?