The Confidence of David
David is one of the best known Bible characters. He was a young shepherd boy, a noble warrior and the King over God’s people. Today David is still honored by Christians and Jews alike. We forget that David was also a sinner. He was an adulterer, a murderer and the head of a horribly dysfunctional family. (2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 13; 2 Samuel 15).
David was also known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
I was reading in Psalms this morning and carefully read through Psalm 17. Here David calls upon God to deliver him from his troubles. That’s common in Psalms. But what struck me was the confidence David had before God. To be accurate, this particular Psalm was probably penned before David committed the sins I listed above. Nevertheless, the man David likely struggled with sin all of his life just like you and I. But notice his confidence in prayer:
“Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit” (vs. 1). “…you have tested me and you will find nothing” (vs. 3). “My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped” (vs.5).
David wasn’t afraid to call upon God. His sins, although very real, were forgiven by God. But it is also clear that David strove to be obedient to God. To serve God was his purpose and mission. His son Solomon reached that conclusion after years of seeking happiness in the things of the world (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
I’m just wondering about our prayers. First, do we fail to pray because we are embarrassed to appear before the throne of God? Do we allow our sins to stand between us and God?
Second, do our prayers fail because of that sin? Isaiah said our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
I guess it really doesn’t matter why or how it happens. But sin must be eliminated and righteousness gained. Only in Christ can sin be removed and in Christ we share in his own righteousness.
What do you think?