“Have mercy upon me, O God.” Psalm 51:1

The cry of the sinner is simple, “Have mercy upon me, O God.” David King of Israel had been confronted by God about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. The word of God, from the mouth of the prophet Nathan, forced David to admit to God his sin. When Nathan said, “Thou art the man,” David had to admit or deny his sin.

Now, with his sin exposed, David had to choose how he would address his forever damaged life that was the outcome of his sin. Nathan told David:

“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” (2 Sa 12:10-12) 

God was not necessarily placing punishment on the King for his sin but informing David that sinful behavior produces it’s own tragedy, torment and troubles. Nathan simply was revealing the future effects of David’s sin. David’s indiscretion with Bathsheba and the net of evil that was woven trying to hide his sin would produce a “sword” of evil that would forever be a shadow over his life.

God did not stop with revealing to David the “sword” of destruction that sin brings into the life of a sinner but he also revealed His grace that He directs to all sinners. The word of God from Nathan that extended to the king was full of grace when he said:

“The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Sa 12:13)

How should a sinner respond when he is confronted with his sin? Some justify their sin because of the situation they were placed in. Others justify their sin by claiming they are no worse than anyone else. Some even justify their sin by blaming God.

David received grace from God for one reason and one reason only. When confronted with his sin David said:

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Sa 12:13)

David simply came into agreement with God that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness. 

David, after admitting his sin before the prophet, went to his “prayer closet” and poured out his broken life and heart before God. We find this prayer recorded in the 51^st Psalm. In his prayer, David admitted his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah was not just a physical sin that had temporal effects but was a spiritual sin that held eternal effects.

As David prayed he said:

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against 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.” (Psa 51:3-4)

Is there a lesson we can learn from David’s failure and confession? Yes. indeed we all sin. David shaped this truth with these words:

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psa 51:5)

We are instructed in the word of God that:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23)

You are a sinner regardless of the fact you agree with God or not. To receive God’s grace as David received it you must respond to your sin as he responded to his, “I acknowledge my transgressions.”

If you respond to God in your sin by acknowledging your sin; there is good news:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

Why is this important to you? Even in your sins God still loves you.

God’s love for you is so great that Jesus said:

“God so loved the world (you), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

God loves you and calls you to come to Him.

How should you respond to God’s call? In repentance of your sin and by faith, call on the name of His son Jesus. This is how the word of God describes how God’s love delivers you from sin and death:

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10)

Will you come into agreement with God today? Will you acknowledge not only your sin but your need for the Saviour, Jesus? Today you can be moved from the rank of the sinners condemned to the sinner who is saved if you will call on the name of Jesus!

“He will make her wilderness like Eden.” Isaiah 51:3

The promise of restoration by God gives great hope and relief to the ones who are experiencing time in the dark and terrible experiences in their pilgrimage in this world. God is in the restoration business. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised Israel their land would be restored “like Eden.”

What did the promise for Israel to be “like Eden” mean? We know the garden God created for man and woman was void of not just sin but the knowledge of sin. Not only did sin not exist, the understanding of what sin was had not entered into the hearts or minds of mankind.

Satan told Eve if she disobeyed God’s word her position would progress from a creation to a creator:

“For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:5)

Satan was and is a liar and only part of this claim made by Satan was indeed true and came to pass. Knowledge of good and evil became a part of the thinking process of humanity. However, there was one aspect Satan did not reveal to Eve. God indeed did know about good and evil but he was not subject to the power that the knowledge of evil would hold over Adam and Eve and all of their descendants.

The Bible makes this proclamation about God’s knowledge of evil:

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (Jas 1:13)

In the garden, God was not only the creator but He was the rightful owner. Adam and Eve did not create nor were they owners of anything.

Their place in the garden was as caretakers:

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Gen 2:15)

It was with God’s privilege as creator and owner to limit access to anything that was His. It was the responsibility of the “dressers and keepers” to respect the will of God.

James explains why God is immune from the effects of sin with these words:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (Jas 1:14-15)

Eve did not own the tree – God did. What God owns He has the power to regulate. God set aside this tree from the dwellers in the Garden not to limit the “keepers” but to protect them from the lust that would lead to sin. Eve’s natural desire to eat fruit became unnatural and she lusted after the forbidden fruit. Her lust led to her sin and her sin led to her death.

God is the creator and owner of all of His creation. There exists nothing He lusts for. God can never sin nor is He a “tempter” of sin but it is your natural desires that lead to lust and lust gives the power to sin and sin empowers death.

For us, there is a promise of “Eden.” We are promised a home in the Father’s house that we are not “keepers” of but owners. Followers of Jesus have been adopted into God’s family and have become inheritors of the Father’s Kingdom.

These words of Apostle Paul to the church that was in Rome bare out this truth:

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” We, just like Jesus, call the Creator of the Garden of Eden Father! But wait there is more!  “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Rom 8:15-17)

When the prophet spoke, at this time during the history of Israel, it was dark and ugly. It was in a time of great distress and discomfort for the people of God that He made, “her wilderness like Eden.” God, through His prophet, gave the promise there would be a restoration and renewal for His people.

Are you are walking in the shadows of trouble and despair? Has your life become a difficult and troublesome path? If so you have hope! Jesus’ love for you never fails. Let me offer you words of comfort from Jesus your brother, Saviour, Friend and God:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:1-4)