Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Don't throw me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalms 51:10'12 WEB.

King David took a stroll around his palace's rooftop terrace one lazy afternoon when he spotted one of his neighbors bathing. It appears his balcony was above hers so he could look down on her. The woman was gorgeous, and she captivated him. So he sent someone to find out more about her. His messenger came back and told him plainly, "This is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah." Uriah the Hittite was one of David's own trusted "mighty men," and he was away serving in the army.

Instead of being out leading the army like he usually was, David was at home and bored. He had many wives of his own, but he just couldn't stop thinking about Bathsheba. So he sent for her and later slept with her. She became pregnant, which was vastly complicated for David because her husband was away in the military. In a few months, this was going to turn into a king size scandal.

David sent for Uriah and tried to get him drunk so that he would go home and sleep with his wife, Bathsheba. Then it would look like the child was his. But Uriah was so loyal, he refused to do so. David was desperate and needed to cover this up. So he sent Uriah back to the battlefield carrying a sealed envelope to give to his commander Joab. In it was an assassination order for the death of Uriah.

Joab arranged for Uriah to be killed by the enemy and sent David the word, "Your servant, Uriah, is dead." Then King David brought Bathsheba to his palace and married her. It appeared to be such a noble act. The rich King David was taking in a poor widow who was pregnant with her war hero husband's child, except she wasn't. It was his.

A year quietly passed by, and Bathsheba had a son. One day, Nathan, the prophet, came to visit David. He told him about a rich man who had many sheep. When a visitor came to his house, instead of taking one of his own sheep to prepare for dinner, he sent for the only pet lamb that a poor man had who lived nearby. The man had raised the lamb as his own daughter, and it slept in his arms. Yet, the rich man took it away, and they ate her for dinner.

David burned with anger when he heard the story about the lamb, for he had once been a shepherd himself. He shouted, "That man deserves to die!" Then Nathan told him, "You are the man!" Those words had to burn David intensely. To be suddenly confronted with all that he had so carefully hidden, the sin he thought he had gotten away with. But facing it was the beginning of restoration.

David wrote later that his sin was always before him. He repented sincerely for what he had done. His prayer is recorded in Psalm 51. In verse 12, David asked God to restore the joy. For the joy of the Lord was one of the first things that left him. Nothing is hidden from God. He just gives us space to repent before it finally catches up with us. There is a period between writing a check and clearing the bank, but the debt eventually hits your account.

When we mess up, it is best to get it over with immediately, before it festers like a sore. A simple prayer, and we can be forgiven. So be willing to stand up and say, "I am the one!" instead of waiting for God to confront you with it. We can choose to repent or to walk without His presence, sad and depressed the whole time. If you ask God, He will forgive you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy. You are long-suffering and understanding. I am sorry for the times that I have let You down and chosen my way instead of Yours. Please forgive me, restore me, and help me live my life for You from this day forward. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network

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