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A Life Study Of The Bible - David’s Cry In Psalm 51:10-11

By Magrietha Du Plessis

Comparing life today with life during David’s time is not all that different at all. A study of characters in the bible is actually a life study of the bible, a study of our lives in the bible. So do this study, thinking about your life and my life as we do a “life study of the bible,” the life of David, or more correctly a study of a small part of David’s eventful life.

A bible study on David’s cry in Psalm 51:10-11

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. (RSV)

We know the history of this Psalm. We know how David kindled a lustful spirit for Bathsheba and killed her husband for that (2Sameul 2:11-12). What a horrible story. Should we have tolerated such deeds committed by a modern day head of state, say e.g. in the USA or Canada? Would we have forgiven such a leader, as God had done? Would we have allowed this head of state to continue leading the country? Would we have allowed David to stay in the bloodline of Christ, as God permitted, if we had a choice?

I know it is not easy, simply because we can’t scrutinise the inner motives of others and know how genuine a repentance is. But that’s not the only difficulty we face, we don’t know how to get past our own prejudiced hearts and viper’s blood directed at other people. Haven’t you known that people get addicted to watching news, only because the misfortunes of others are entertainment? How many people would faithfully continue watching news, every night, when only good news would be dished up? Our sinful natures feast on the degrading of others, since it feeds the ego. Such an act, by the head of state, would escape the need for forgiveness in the inward kicks it will produce - the ego will be fed to its capacity.

In short, this vulturing doesn’t fall short of the sin David committed. Lust is lust; lust for a women or lust for the misfortune of others, what’s the difference? David degraded Bathsheba, since we don’t read anywhere that she had a say in this adultery. David degraded her husband through lies and deceptions and then killed him as if he was a static barrier in the way. How low can one be? The sins boils down to idolatry, the ego above others and even God. The David above all else!!!!

Isn’t this idolatry the fibre of civilisation? The survival of the fittest. The most intelligent excel the highest in University, to get the best jobs, to earn the most money? In short, the most intelligent had to eliminate all competition on the way up; otherwise the job would have gone to someone else. Not even to mention the business world. The way up, in the business world, is over the heads of others, eliminating the opposition. Only the best of the best makes it to the top.

Do you sometimes look over the fence, to the Joneses, and desire/lust what they have? How many times have you looked over the other fence, to the slums and those that are longing for the crumbs on your table? Don’t you recognise the viper’s nest in your heart? Don’t you see that there is no difference between such a heart and the sin David committed?

My friend, we need the same measure of grace David begged for. Don’t think David’s forgiveness exceeds that what we need. No. God needs to create a new heart for every one of us. The viper’s nest needs to be removed and replaced by a heart of love. God needs to create this heart out of nothing, otherwise it is not a creation story. The new heart will be a new and an upright spirit within us. A spirit that rejoices in the good and weeps with the unfortunate. A spirit that suffers with and in the slums. This spirit resides in the presence of God who turns the insiders out and the outsiders in. In God’s economy the slums are in and the Joneses out. The way up, in God’s kingdom, is the way down. Let’s cry out with David:

God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. (The Message)

Driving it home:

1. Would you have thought that you are better than David, should David have been a present day king?

2. Are people sometimes only objects for self gratification in your economy of life?

3. Do you reckon that you would have been an insider, with Jesus walking the dusty roads of Palestine? Would Jesus have taken you up in His ranks?

You may want to check out my other guide on large print bibles and audio bibles