Over the last few weeks we have looked at the place of worship in our lives and in our spirituality. We have said that worship is for our benefit, not God's and that we are made to worship. Last week we looked at what we do in the worship services we have and why we do it. Today I want to conclude our series on worship by looking at how worship can free us from guilt.
It seems to be that guilt is one of the main reasons why so many people find true, authentic, worship difficult. We are often guilty about things we have no need to feel guilty about and, at the same time, don't deal effectively with the things that we need to deal with.
Our reading today, which Jenny-Anne read for us, is the traditional psalm used when people wish to express their penitence. It is thought to have been composed by David, possibly the greatest Jewish king.
David was married to, Michal, the daughter of the previous King but, over the years, their relationship seemed to diminish. His wife, laughed at him and his devotion to God and she seems to disappear out of the Biblical story quite quickly after this. Later on, David becomes infatuated with the wife of one of his generals. This woman, Bathsheba, was beautiful and David saw her taking her bath one day and became instantly, and fatally, attracted to her.
Their affair, however, led to her becoming pregnant. As her husband, Uriah, was away fighting wars this was going to prove embarrassing. David, therefore, summoned her husband back to report on the progress of the war and then sent him to his house to enjoy some rest. However, Uriah disobeyed David thinking it was dishonourable to return to his house when his comrades were still fighting.
David then sent orders for Uriah to be stationed near the front of the war so that he would be killed and, sure enough, the battle did not go well and Uriah was killed. After Uriah had died Bathsheba became David's wife but, the Bible tells us, "The Lord was displeased with what David had done."
The child did not survive and David was confronted by the religious leader of the people and told to repent. David did and, tradition has it, wrote the Psalm we heard today in worship.
David knew he had sinned, but the Bible does not tell us how he was with God between sinning and repenting. I suspect he got on with the rest of his life and avoided thinking about God. He probably stayed away from worship in the Temple as to focus on the God of holiness when you are conscious of your own sin is a difficult thing to do - especially if you have no intention of turning away from it.
Eventually the prophet Nathan asked David the equivalent of
"How is it between you and the Lord?"
This was not an easy thing to do - royal folks don't often respond well to being told they are sinners! However, it is not an easy thing for us to do. How often do we ask
"How is it between you and me, Lord?"
This is not an easy thing to do or a light commitment to make. Taking a serious, personal, inventory of our souls is something most of us would rather not do. Indeed there are significant barriers to the process.
· We are too busy for our inner lives.
· We are usually easy markers when it comes to our own lives and hard markers when it comes to the lives of others.
· We are quick to justify ourselves and slow to excuse others.
· And... we are sometimes fearful of what we will see.
It will usually take some kind of outer voice or event to turn us to the inward journey. It can be the words of a friend who cares, or who dares tell us to take a look at ourselves.
For King David of Israel, the voice behind Psalm 51, it was Nathan the prophet. Like many of us, David was living in denial of his grievous sin against his top general Uriah. In his greed and lust, David broke every major commandment with lying, murderous conspiracy, adultery and theft!
He does not confront the seriousness, nor the reality of what he has done until Nathan the prophet courageously comes to him and holds a mirror up to the King's face. Ingeniously, Nathan leads into the sin with a parable in which the King is looking at the situation as though someone else had committed the wrong. A rich man steals a lamb from a poor man to feed a guest. The lamb had been like a member of the poor family. The rich man who could have anything he wanted and any lamb in the land, nevertheless, devastates the poor man by stealing his lamb.
King David is incensed and angrily blurts out, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." [2 Sam 12:5-6] Then Nathan delivers the crushing truth, "You are the man!"
Psalm 51 is the account of David's dealing with his corrupt inner life. And a special note here. Many people find this passage difficult. They have an inability to forgive David.
Understandable. However, it is important to realize that even though David is forgiven (as any one of us can be forgiven any sin if we honestly turn away from the sin and to God) -- David's life will never be the same. Besides the death of his child, David will endure the pain and anguish of a family life that has forever been derailed by his own actions.
Although King David's culture and time are so far removed from us, there are significant and important clues about forgiveness of sin and restoration of our relationship with God in these verses.
· We need to come face to face with our sin and separation from God. I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. [v.3]
· No matter who we have hurt or harmed, or what we have done, all sin is finally sin against God. David had sinned against his people, Uriah, and Bathsheba - but it was sin against God. "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight..." [v.4]
· God alone can cleanse us from sin and give us spiritual healing / recovery. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions" [v1]
· Forgiveness of sin brings about new life, new birth or new creation. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." [v.10]
· There is no authentic joy in our living until we are reconciled to God. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. [v.12]
· When we have come to terms with our inner condition and have received healing and forgiveness from God, there are two responses by which we may measure the depth of our restoration. [1] We share the good news of forgiveness of sin and [2] We give witness to the love of God with our praise. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. [v.13] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. [v.15]
May God give each one of us the spiritual courage to look within ourselves, confront our sin and experience the joy of reconciliation. In this way we will leave behind our guilt and worship in truth and peace. Amen.
This sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester. Click here for further information.