Despised God

A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him,
After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba....
My sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight ...
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me....
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
(Psalms 51:1,10-11,17 NKJV)

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: '... you have despised Me ..." (2 Samuel 12:10 NKJV)

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord ... So Peter went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. (Luke 22:60-63 NKJV)

Which hurt the Lord more, the words and blows of His captors or Peter's denial? How did Peter feel when he denied Jesus and then felt the eyes of Jesus upon him? How did David feel when the Lord said, "You have despised Me"?

The musician who drove away King Saul's evil spirit with the music of the Holy Spirit knew well the consequences of despising God: "The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul." (1 Samuel 16:14 NKJV) When confronted with his sin, David did not attempt to avoid its penalty by justifying himself as Saul did, but immediately repented and sought reconciliation with God.

Both Peter and David understood their breach of relationship with the Lord. Both wept bitterly for their sin. Whatever else its consequences or who is injured by it, sin not only expresses contempt against God, it breaks down precious fellowship with the One who loves us most.

Oh God, you are my God. Please forgive the many ways I fail You. Please let me not shrink back from fully acknowledging my sin, nor from experiencing the pain of the damage to our relationship. Please fill me with Your Spirit and make me love You more—enough to choose You over every alternative.

"Sin would have fewer takers if the consequences were immediate." — Unknown

Feedback may be posted to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mailed to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com.
Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy