WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.500 Good morning, everyone. My name is Eric. For those of you who don't know me, I'm one of the guys on staff here at Watermark Church. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:16.820 The year was 1997. There's a new magazine out called Backwoods Homes Magazine. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:22.519 It was a new magazine, which means that the classified section didn't always get filled up. 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:31.420 And in the times when they were short on classified ads, the editor would get one of his friends to come and fill up the extra space with riddles and jokes. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:44.179 One week when they were short on classified ads, the friend who typically told the riddles and jokes asked if instead he could submit a couple of personal classified ads for free. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:46.659 And the editor said, sure, why not? 00:00:47.060 --> 00:00:50.280 So the first ad was an ad for a girlfriend. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:56.960 He was looking for someone to be the love of his life and decided this magazine might be the place to look. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:01.160 The second one, which you can see on the screen behind me, said wanted. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:04.019 Somebody to go back in time with me. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:05.780 This is not a joke. 00:01:06.700 --> 00:01:11.400 P.O. Box 322, Oakview, California, 93022. 00:01:11.960 --> 00:01:14.159 You'll get paid after we get back. 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:16.099 Must bring your own weapons. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:18.140 Safety not guaranteed. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:21.060 I have only done this once before. 00:01:22.420 --> 00:01:25.260 Now, he didn't really expect many responses from this. 00:01:25.379 --> 00:01:32.780 However, in the 20 years that have gone by since posting this ad, he continues to get responses to this letter. 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:36.920 He has gotten responses from every continent, including Antarctica. 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:42.519 And some people just want to go back in time for the thrill of it. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:46.340 He said a surprisingly high number of people actually believe that the ad was real. 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:50.260 Some people want to go back in time just for the excitement. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.980 Who wouldn't want to go back and see parts of the past? 00:01:52.980 --> 00:02:03.659 But most of the letters that he has received in response to this ad have been people who want to go back and undo a tragedy in their lives. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:15.840 He said that he has received several dozens of letters from people in prison who want to go back in time and stop themselves from committing the crime that put them there in the first place. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:23.759 One lady even wrote to him and asked if she could go back in time and stop the hitman that she hired to kill her husband. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:36.039 Out of all of the responses that this man has received from this ad, very, very few are from people who want to go back and relive a positive, happy moment from their lives. 00:02:36.179 --> 00:02:48.039 Most of them are from people who want to go change a tragedy and stop it from happening because those times are the times that have stuck with them and haunted them throughout their lives. 00:02:48.039 --> 00:03:00.879 And I'm guessing that each of us here today has one or two moments in our lives that if we had the chance and we had a time machine that we could go back and undo those moments, we would. 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:05.259 You know, I'm hoping that no one in here has hired a hitman to kill their spouse. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:10.459 But all of us have things that follow us and haunt us. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:15.899 For me, I have a handful of moments that I think I wish I could go back and undo them. 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:18.480 One of them happened a couple summers ago. 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:26.280 I was back visiting home and as kids, one of my younger brothers used to intentionally try to annoy me a lot. 00:03:27.219 --> 00:03:31.500 And he's grown up since then, but it's been years since we've lived under the same roof. 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:35.259 So in my mind, he was still that same annoying little kid. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:41.060 And while I was home visiting, he did a couple things that just bothered me, you know? 00:03:41.060 --> 00:03:46.780 And I decided, I'm tired of him intentionally bothering me. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:48.020 I'm an adult now. 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:49.539 I don't need to put up with this. 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:52.659 I'm going to say something to him that will make him stop. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:04:00.240 And so as we were loading into the van to go celebrate my cousin's wedding, I lashed out at him. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:06.460 And I sent a very clear message that I am tired of you trying to annoy me. 00:04:06.460 --> 00:04:16.720 We got to the wedding and I celebrated because it's a day for celebration and didn't really pay much attention to my brother until we got home that evening. 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:21.199 And we're hanging out as a family and my mom came up to me and she said, 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:24.240 Hey, Eric, you need to go talk to your brother. 00:04:25.340 --> 00:04:26.680 I said, What? What's going on? 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:31.600 And she said, He's up in his room and he won't come down because of what you said to him this morning. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:44.640 And so I went up to talk to him and I still, from time to time, see that image in my head of my brother lying on his bed in tears because of the impact that my words had on him. 00:04:45.160 --> 00:04:51.180 And it's painful to know that my words cause such pain to someone that I love. 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:58.260 And if I could go back in time, that's one of the moments that I wish I could go undo, take back those words that I've said. 00:04:58.260 --> 00:05:00.600 But as we all know, I can't. 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:11.140 And I'm sure that each of us has moments in our lives, big and small, where we've failed, where we've messed up, where we have sinned. 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:13.320 Sin is rebellion against God. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:19.140 And times that, if possible, we would want to go back and change. 00:05:19.480 --> 00:05:25.560 And today we're continuing our series on the Psalms and talking about worship in all seasons of life. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:31.540 And we're talking today about Psalm 51, a psalm for the seasons when we are guilty. 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:41.680 And what we're going to see is that in our moments of sin, in our moments of rebellion against God, we need forgiveness that can only be found in Jesus. 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:44.620 So we're going to have three points. 00:05:44.779 --> 00:05:47.160 First, sin, the heart of the matter. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:49.740 Second, the only solution. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:05:52.400 And third, the life-changing conclusion. 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:57.180 And then we're going to conclude the sermon by taking communion together. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:01.140 Normally we take it earlier in the service, but today we're going to take it at the end. 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:04.580 So the sermon itself will be the communion intro. 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:09.240 But first, we're going to talk about sin, the heart of the matter. 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:18.220 Now the Psalms, the book of Psalms, is a collection of songs that were sung by Israel in the Old Testament to worship God. 00:06:18.780 --> 00:06:19.699 Here we have songs. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:21.300 We just finished singing some songs. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:25.900 And we keep our songs stored on the computer back there so that we can put them on the screen here. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:31.400 In the Old Testament, they collected their songs in a book, which is now known as the book of Psalms. 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:38.899 And as with many songs, something often happens that inspires someone to write a song. 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:48.179 And in the book of Psalms, some of the songs have little notes at the start that tell us why that song was written. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:49.259 And this is one of them. 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:50.259 It says, 00:06:50.419 --> 00:06:55.479 A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 00:06:57.039 --> 00:07:00.919 Now if you've grown up in church, this next couple minutes is going to be a review. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:01.800 But it's important. 00:07:02.300 --> 00:07:06.580 And if you haven't grown up in church, this is very important to understanding this psalm. 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:14.580 The background of why this psalm was written is very important for us to understand what's being talked about in this psalm. 00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:21.720 Now David was a king of Israel back in the Old Testament, in the earlier part of the Bible. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.259 And he was an amazing man. 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:33.240 God himself said of David that he was a man after God's own heart. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:38.300 Now the number of people that God speaks that highly of is very small. 00:07:39.259 --> 00:07:40.699 But God himself said, 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:44.360 This man, David, is a man after my own heart. 00:07:44.459 --> 00:07:50.039 If I search out the world for people who love me, who follow me with all of their hearts, 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.780 this is one of the few. 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:56.860 David became the king of Israel and he led the nation well. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:59.220 He led the army to conquer foreign lands. 00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:01.360 He led the people in worshiping God. 00:08:01.660 --> 00:08:03.060 He had established his kingdom. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:04.460 Things were going well. 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:07.259 And then, one night, 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:09.920 his armies were out at war, 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:11.160 fighting battles. 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:13.240 But for some reason, which we don't know, 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:14.000 he was at home. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.040 He was taking a walk on his rooftop. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.459 And as he looked down over the edge, 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:23.360 he saw a woman taking a bath on a neighboring rooftop. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:26.360 And he called all his servants and said, 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:27.019 Who's that one? 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:29.579 And they said, 00:08:29.800 --> 00:08:30.899 She's Bathsheba. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:33.440 She's the wife of one of your soldiers in your army. 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:35.919 And David said to himself, 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.740 Hmm, she's married to a soldier in the army. 00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:40.259 It means her husband's away, 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:41.399 so she's probably lonely. 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:42.879 And she's hot. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.720 Go grab her. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:45.559 Have her come over here. 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.240 And Bathsheba came over 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.639 and spent the night with King David. 00:08:52.340 --> 00:08:54.139 Now, by all appearances, 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:57.240 it seems that David probably was expecting this 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:58.620 to just be a one-night stand, 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:00.000 have a little fun, 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:01.200 and then move on with life. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:01.679 However, 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.179 not long after this, 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:06.519 he received news that Bathsheba was pregnant, 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:08.139 which created a problem 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:10.139 because her husband had been gone 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:12.620 fighting in the army for months 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:15.019 and wouldn't be home for a few more months. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:16.519 And so there was no way 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:19.460 that Bathsheba's husband would believe this baby was his. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:22.100 David was going to be in trouble. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:26.480 And so he came up quick on his feet 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:28.679 with a plan to cover his tracks. 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:31.200 He sent a messenger to the leader of the army 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:31.639 and said, 00:09:31.759 --> 00:09:33.779 Hey, I want to hear an update on how things are going. 00:09:34.200 --> 00:09:36.480 Send Bathsheba's husband back here to update me. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.879 So Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:40.600 comes in, 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:42.820 updates David on how things are going in the army, 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:43.700 and David says, 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:44.600 Thanks for the update. 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:46.580 Go spend the night at home, 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:47.440 and I'll see you in the morning. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.180 And Bathsheba's husband says, 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:51.399 No, king, I can't do that. 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:53.879 It's not fair to the other soldiers 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:55.580 that I get to go see my wife 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:56.980 and have a nice night at home 00:09:56.980 --> 00:09:58.940 while they're out fighting the battles. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:01.460 I'm just going to go down to your servants' quarters 00:10:01.460 --> 00:10:02.120 and sleep there. 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:06.080 So David's like, 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:06.659 Okay. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:09.019 Plan B. 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:11.279 The next night, 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:14.600 David keeps Bathsheba's husband around again 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:16.220 and gets him very drunk. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:18.360 And then at the end of the night, 00:10:18.460 --> 00:10:18.820 he says, 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:19.299 All right. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:20.379 Go home. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:21.440 Spend the night with your wife. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:23.340 It's going to be a good night for you. 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:25.299 However, even though drunk, 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:27.940 Bathsheba's husband is still aware enough to say, 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:28.220 No. 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:31.379 I can't do this to my fellow soldiers. 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:33.299 I'm going to sleep in the servants' quarters. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:34.419 And again, 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:35.259 he goes down 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:37.399 and spends the night in the servants' quarters. 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.500 And David at this point realizes, 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:42.720 I'm not going to be able to cover this up. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:46.820 Uriah is too good of a man 00:10:46.820 --> 00:10:49.340 to go spend the night with his wife 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:50.860 when all of his other soldiers 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:52.360 that he fights alongside of 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.539 are out at battle. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:56.659 I need to take more drastic measures 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:57.980 to cover up what I've done. 00:10:58.679 --> 00:10:59.919 So he writes a letter 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:01.299 to the commander of the army 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:01.839 and he says, 00:11:01.979 --> 00:11:03.000 Here's what I want you to do. 00:11:04.359 --> 00:11:05.639 Take Bathsheba's husband, 00:11:06.359 --> 00:11:08.459 put him in the part of the fighting 00:11:08.459 --> 00:11:10.339 where it's the most intense, 00:11:10.819 --> 00:11:11.979 and once he is there, 00:11:12.339 --> 00:11:13.779 pull all the other soldiers back 00:11:13.779 --> 00:11:15.579 so he is alone in the front 00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:17.099 in the most intense area of fighting. 00:11:18.219 --> 00:11:19.179 He writes the letter. 00:11:19.299 --> 00:11:20.079 He seals it up. 00:11:20.719 --> 00:11:22.759 He hands it to Bathsheba's husband, 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:24.599 who has no idea what's inside it, 00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:25.479 and says, 00:11:25.579 --> 00:11:26.799 Deliver this to your commander. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.139 And Uriah, 00:11:29.359 --> 00:11:31.079 as a loyal, obedient subject, 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:32.579 carries this note 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:34.179 with his death sentence in it 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:36.179 to the commander of the army, 00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:39.740 who obeys his king. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:42.720 The news comes to David 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:45.120 that Uriah has been killed, 00:11:46.899 --> 00:11:49.120 and Bathsheba mourns her husband, 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:50.879 and then as soon as possible 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.159 marries King David, 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:55.159 and nine months after that first fateful night, 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:56.320 a baby is born, 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:59.279 and David may have felt kind of bad about it, 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:02.639 but probably not too bad 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.079 because he got away with it, right? 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.639 He has a new wife 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.339 added to his collection of wives, 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:10.240 and she's really pretty. 00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:11.939 They have a new baby. 00:12:12.839 --> 00:12:14.860 No one knows about what he's done wrong. 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.559 Things are looking good 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:19.620 until a knock comes on the door, 00:12:20.620 --> 00:12:22.360 and in walks Nathan the prophet, 00:12:23.319 --> 00:12:24.240 and he says, 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:24.759 King David, 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.980 I've heard a story 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:27.240 about something that's going on 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.799 in your kingdom. 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.599 You're going to want to hear about this. 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:31.639 And David says, 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:33.479 Okay, tell me what's going on. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:35.799 Nathan says, 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.779 There were two men. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.919 One of them was very wealthy. 00:12:39.099 --> 00:12:40.019 He had lots of sheep, 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:40.799 lots of land, 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:41.759 lots of servants. 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:44.579 The other one was a very poor man. 00:12:44.959 --> 00:12:47.359 He had only one young lamb, 00:12:48.099 --> 00:12:50.079 but this lamb was precious to him. 00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:53.059 It would eat at the table with his family. 00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:54.500 It was like a daughter to him. 00:12:55.359 --> 00:12:56.459 And one day, 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:59.080 a visitor came to visit this rich man, 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:02.800 and the rich man needed to feed his guest. 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:06.280 And rather than taking one of his lambs 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:07.560 from the many that he had, 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.519 he went and took the poor man's lamb 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:12.800 and killed it and fed it to his guest. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:16.359 And David became furious. 00:13:16.359 --> 00:13:16.759 He said, 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.799 He said, 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.199 The man who did this deserves to die. 00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:26.679 And he has to repay the poor man four times 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.679 for what he stole. 00:13:29.099 --> 00:13:30.339 This is terrible. 00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:34.259 I cannot believe that this is happening in my kingdom. 00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:39.299 And after what I imagined was a dramatic pause, 00:13:41.159 --> 00:13:43.279 Nathan responds to King David, 00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:46.100 You are the man. 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:50.899 God has given you everything you could have ever wanted. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:53.319 And rather than living thankfully, 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:56.779 you decided to go out and steal your neighbor's wife 00:13:56.779 --> 00:13:59.139 and have your neighbor murdered to cover it up. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:02.240 And in a moment, 00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:04.139 clarity comes to David, 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.519 and he realizes, 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:07.559 I have sinned. 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:11.279 And this psalm that we're looking at today, 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.840 Psalm chapter 51, 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:15.059 is David's response 00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:18.019 after this conversation with Nathan. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.480 Now, I'm guessing 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.500 that if ever there was a moment in history 00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.580 where someone wished they had a time machine 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:24.919 that they could go back 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:26.439 and undo their actions, 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:30.360 it was David in that conversation with Nathan. 00:14:31.520 --> 00:14:32.440 And yet he didn't. 00:14:33.520 --> 00:14:35.380 And so we have this psalm, 00:14:35.520 --> 00:14:37.440 Psalm chapter 51, 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.940 David's response 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.840 when he recognizes the fact 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.440 that he has sinned 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:44.880 by stealing his neighbor's wife 00:14:44.880 --> 00:14:46.420 and having his neighbor murdered 00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.380 to cover it up. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:50.240 And when we look at Psalm 51, 00:14:50.540 --> 00:14:51.540 the thing that we'll see 00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:53.700 is that David's first response 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:56.000 when he recognizes his sin 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.360 is to run to God 00:14:58.360 --> 00:15:00.299 and plead for mercy. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:03.100 Verses one and two say, 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.940 Have mercy on me, O God, 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:06.799 according to your steadfast love. 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:09.200 According to your abundant mercy, 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.960 blot out my transgressions. 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:13.480 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:15.159 and cleanse me from my sin. 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:19.019 There's no excuses for why he did what he did. 00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:20.139 There's no blame shifting. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.259 There's simply an acknowledgement 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.199 that I have sinned 00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:26.299 and I need help. 00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:29.519 So God, please help me. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:33.740 I think the reason David responds this way 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:35.199 is because he recognizes 00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:37.539 that the heart of the matter in his sin 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.679 is the matter of the heart. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:42.679 The heart of the matter 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.959 is the matter of the heart. 00:15:44.079 --> 00:15:44.839 He recognizes, 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.399 I'm not some good person 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:49.099 who just messed up 00:15:49.099 --> 00:15:49.799 and had a bad day 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.579 and did a bad thing. 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:50.859 No. 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.779 I have a wicked heart 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:55.039 that led me to sin 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:56.179 against my neighbor 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:57.339 and against God. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:00.899 And this is a response that's rare, 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.559 especially in our world today. 00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:04.059 If you think about the ways 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:04.979 that people respond 00:16:04.979 --> 00:16:05.899 when they're caught 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:07.179 doing something wrong 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:07.919 in the world today, 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.979 so often it's different than this. 00:16:10.699 --> 00:16:11.439 In the world, 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.740 we cover up what we've done. 00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.339 Like Bill Clinton. 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:16.559 I did not have sexual relations 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:17.459 with that woman. 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:20.459 David doesn't do that. 00:16:20.539 --> 00:16:21.219 He confesses, 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.679 I have sinned. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:25.059 Or, 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.379 in the world today, 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:27.459 when people get caught 00:16:27.459 --> 00:16:28.699 doing things 00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.879 they shouldn't be doing, 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.299 we try and brush it off 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.339 as an inconsistency. 00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:33.779 I'm generally a good person. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.759 I just, you know, 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.500 had a bad day. 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:37.399 Like Usher, 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.700 the musician, 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.539 when he was caught 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:40.539 cheating on his wife. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.899 His response 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.000 is fantastic. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.840 I was faithful at heart, 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.100 but not faithful all the way. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.620 It's like the Princess Bride. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.679 I was only mostly faithful, 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:55.820 not all faithful. 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:58.259 Or the actress, 00:16:58.399 --> 00:16:59.100 Kristen Stewart, 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.440 when she was caught 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.120 having an affair 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.080 with a married director. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.600 She labeled it as a, 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:04.920 quote, 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.700 momentary indiscretion. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.279 I'm normally a good person. 00:17:10.120 --> 00:17:11.640 I just had a bad moment. 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:14.299 Or Tiger Woods, 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.720 when it was revealed 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.680 that he had been cheating 00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.360 on his wife 00:17:17.360 --> 00:17:18.860 with several different women. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.019 He said, 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.980 I felt I had worked hard 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:23.120 my entire life 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:25.019 and deserved to enjoy 00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.640 all the temptations around me. 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.039 I was unfaithful, 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:28.880 I had affairs, 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.579 I cheated. 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:31.720 Yes, I did a bad thing, 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.339 but it was because 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.559 I'm such a good person 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.339 and a hard worker 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.759 that I felt that I deserved 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.220 to get away with a few bad things. 00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:40.680 This is how we typically respond 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.299 in our world 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.299 when we are caught in our sin. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:44.700 We deny it, 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.980 we make excuses, 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:48.339 we say that it's not in line 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.440 with our true character, 00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:50.480 and David, 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:52.000 in Psalm 51, 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:53.940 does none of these things. 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.600 If you look at verse 5, 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:56.980 he says, 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.440 Behold, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.960 I was brought forth in iniquity, 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.000 and in sin 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.720 did my mother conceive me. 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:03.740 He says, 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:04.960 I'm not a good person 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:06.460 who just made a bad decision. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.299 He says, 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.720 I have been a sinner 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:09.740 since the day 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.840 that I was conceived. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.400 And this action 00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.460 that I just did 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:15.460 is in line 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.480 with my character 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.319 because I am rebellious 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.120 and stubborn. 00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.279 You shouldn't be amazed 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:21.640 that I can mess up 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:22.220 this badly. 00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:22.460 No, 00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.259 you should be amazed 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.340 that I don't mess up 00:18:24.340 --> 00:18:24.960 this badly 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.819 all the time 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.919 because I know 00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:28.079 how messed up 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:29.419 my heart is. 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:31.439 Because the heart 00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:32.119 of the matter 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:33.939 is the matter 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.359 of my heart. 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.939 I acted out wickedly 00:18:36.939 --> 00:18:38.319 because I had 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.480 a wicked heart. 00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:44.659 David comes to God 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:46.200 with brutal honesty, 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.299 confessing his sin 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:50.240 and begging God 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.519 to do something 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.220 to make it right. 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:55.600 However, 00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:59.019 David's problem 00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.980 is too big 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.880 for David alone 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:01.360 to fix, 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:01.920 which means 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.640 that he must look 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.960 outside himself 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.660 for a solution. 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:06.299 Which brings us 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.120 to point to 00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:08.620 the only solution. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.700 He knows 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.680 that his sin 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.700 is his biggest problem, 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:15.480 that his heart 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.960 that leads him 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.380 to sin 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.420 is his biggest problem. 00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.460 He's created problems 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.319 that he could never 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.140 make right. 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:23.140 no matter 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:23.780 how hard 00:19:23.780 --> 00:19:24.480 David tried, 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.380 there's nothing 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:26.100 that he could do 00:19:26.100 --> 00:19:26.920 to bring Uriah 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:27.880 back from the dead 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.759 and give him 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.860 back his wife. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.400 No amount 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:33.040 of hard work, 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:33.520 no amount 00:19:33.520 --> 00:19:34.240 of sacrifices, 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:34.780 no amount 00:19:34.780 --> 00:19:35.380 of anything 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.400 can undo 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.420 the pain 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:38.040 and destruction 00:19:38.040 --> 00:19:38.680 that David 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.380 has caused 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.680 through his actions. 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.240 And even if 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.100 there was something 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:43.860 that he could do, 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:46.759 he still recognizes 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.780 that he has 00:19:47.780 --> 00:19:48.560 a wicked heart 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:49.420 and his wicked heart 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.140 is what led him 00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.960 to these actions 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.759 in the first place 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.500 and changing 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.140 his behavior 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:53.960 is not going 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:54.519 to change 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.099 his heart. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.259 Behavior modification 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.339 doesn't lead 00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.259 to a transformed 00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.740 heart. 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.879 And so for David's 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.920 situation 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.920 to have 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.559 a positive solution, 00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.480 he needs 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:07.119 that solution 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:07.700 to come 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.740 from someone 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.400 outside himself. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.599 But the question 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.019 is, 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.480 who outside 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.079 of David 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.339 is big enough 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.980 to fix 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.259 David's problem? 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.859 Think about it, 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.519 he's the king. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.019 There's no earthly 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.679 authority, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.519 no person 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.159 on earth 00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:27.259 who has the 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.599 authority 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.359 to pardon him. 00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:29.500 He is the highest 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.599 authority in the land. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:31.979 It's not like 00:20:31.979 --> 00:20:33.019 he can go to the king 00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:33.699 and get a pardon. 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.779 He is the king. 00:20:36.479 --> 00:20:36.959 And, 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:38.259 if you look 00:20:38.259 --> 00:20:39.559 at the Old Testament 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:39.979 law, 00:20:40.719 --> 00:20:41.699 God makes provisions 00:20:41.699 --> 00:20:42.399 for people 00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.199 to get forgiveness 00:20:43.199 --> 00:20:44.079 for lots of sins. 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.619 If you rob 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:44.979 your neighbor, 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:46.099 you make some sacrifices, 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.839 you pay the neighbor 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:47.219 back, 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:48.000 and you're good. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.779 for adultery, 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.019 there is nothing 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.819 that you can do. 00:20:51.900 --> 00:20:52.940 The sentence is death. 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.440 For murder, 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.779 there is nothing 00:20:55.779 --> 00:20:56.819 that you can do. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:58.140 The sentence is death. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.359 And David hadn't done 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.160 one or the other 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.500 of these, 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.119 he had done 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.000 both of them. 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.359 And so he comes 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.140 to God 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.059 and he says 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.319 in verse 16, 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.319 you would not delight 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.119 in sacrifice 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.000 or I would give it. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.279 You will not be pleased 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.359 with a burnt offering. 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:12.960 God, 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.779 if there's anything 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.880 that I could do 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.220 to make things right, 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.420 I would do it, 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.539 but I know 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.579 that I can't. 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.100 I know 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:27.039 that there's nothing 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.860 within my power 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:30.620 that I can do 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:33.500 to fix my situation. 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.279 So God, 00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:35.400 I'm turning to you 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.339 because you 00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:37.660 are the only one 00:21:37.660 --> 00:21:39.819 that can make this right. 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.880 He turns to God 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.860 and he begs 00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:43.720 for a deep, 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.720 deep mercy. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.940 If you look 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:47.380 at the first two verses again 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.660 and look at the words 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.559 that David uses 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:51.079 in his request to God, 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:51.519 he says, 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.319 have mercy on me, 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.900 O God. 00:21:54.779 --> 00:21:55.799 This word mercy 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.019 means to take pity 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.079 and show kindness 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:59.640 that he does not deserve. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:01.600 He says, 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.360 according to your 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:03.279 abundant mercy, 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.220 blot out my transgressions. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:06.700 This word blot out, 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.539 it's like if someone 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:08.839 was writing an accusation 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.539 in wax 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.620 with a sharp instrument 00:22:11.620 --> 00:22:13.000 and as they're writing, 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.420 instead of continuing writing, 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.460 they turn the instrument 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:17.560 and use the long edge 00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:18.560 to wipe out 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.720 everything they've just written 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:21.480 and erase any record 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.759 that those accusations 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.880 had ever been written. 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:24.759 David says, 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.180 God, 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:27.360 please do that for me. 00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.620 I know that I am guilty, 00:22:29.820 --> 00:22:30.800 but wipe out 00:22:30.800 --> 00:22:31.920 any evidence 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:33.620 that I have ever done 00:22:33.620 --> 00:22:34.180 this wrong. 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.720 He says, 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.980 wash me thoroughly 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.039 from my iniquity. 00:22:38.800 --> 00:22:39.660 The picture here, 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.100 the literal translation 00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.619 of that is multiply 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.539 to wash me. 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.480 The picture is 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.299 of laundry 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:47.579 with a stain on it, 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.399 a big stain, 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:50.019 and you need to wash this. 00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:51.480 And when you wash it, 00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:52.399 the stain is still there, 00:22:52.439 --> 00:22:53.339 so you wash it again 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.459 and again and again 00:22:54.459 --> 00:22:55.480 and again and again 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:56.759 until the stain is gone. 00:22:58.159 --> 00:22:59.019 David says, 00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.699 God, 00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:00.939 wash me 00:23:00.939 --> 00:23:02.459 over and over 00:23:02.459 --> 00:23:03.279 and over 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.059 and over 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.740 until the stain 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.459 of my guilt 00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:07.179 is gone. 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:09.380 and then he says, 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.120 cleanse me 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:10.880 from my sin. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.880 This word cleanse 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:14.560 is a ceremonial picture 00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:16.680 of him saying, 00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:17.039 God, 00:23:17.120 --> 00:23:18.140 make me clean 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.180 so that I can come 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.880 into the temple 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:20.700 and worship you 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.940 because the Israelites 00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:22.759 needed to be 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.960 ceremonially clean 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.500 before they could come 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.799 in and worship God. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.000 And David says, 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:29.860 God, 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.100 bring me back 00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:31.900 to a place 00:23:31.900 --> 00:23:33.460 where I can join 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.120 with your people 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:35.700 and worship you 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.100 despite my sin 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:39.019 despite my guilt. 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:41.939 And something I want 00:23:41.939 --> 00:23:42.859 to just note quickly, 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.919 we've been talking a lot 00:23:43.919 --> 00:23:44.459 in our series 00:23:44.459 --> 00:23:45.179 on the Psalms 00:23:45.179 --> 00:23:45.959 on the importance 00:23:45.959 --> 00:23:47.859 of honesty, 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.679 being honest with God 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.319 and being honest 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:50.879 with ourselves 00:23:50.879 --> 00:23:51.740 about what's happening 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.379 in our lives, 00:23:52.459 --> 00:23:53.159 where we're struggling. 00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.519 And one thing 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.419 I want us to see today 00:23:56.419 --> 00:23:57.179 is that if we want 00:23:57.179 --> 00:23:58.439 to make true progress 00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:59.039 in our fight 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.819 against the sin 00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.759 inside of us, 00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.859 we need to be honest 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.459 with ourselves 00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.599 and with God 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:05.740 about that sin. 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.700 And David sets 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.859 an amazing example 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:09.480 of that in this chapter. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:11.620 You know, 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.359 in my life, 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.700 I have this tendency 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.640 to downplay 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.579 the sin inside me. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.339 I don't like 00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:17.779 to see the true 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.859 depths of sin 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.839 in my heart. 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.940 When I speak words 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.000 intended to hurt someone 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.779 and they get offended, 00:24:24.339 --> 00:24:25.559 my initial response 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.319 isn't to think, 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:26.819 wow, 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.700 I'm the type of person 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.559 who speaks words 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.380 intended to hurt. 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.960 My initial response 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.240 is, 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.779 they're so sensitive, 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.420 I can't believe 00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:34.980 they get upset 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.480 over that. 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.680 When in all honesty, 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.139 the words that I spoke 00:24:39.139 --> 00:24:39.779 were spoken 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.819 with the goal 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.799 of hurting them. 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.279 And as long 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.279 as I brush off 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.000 my sin 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:49.539 as other people's problem, 00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:51.740 as inconsistencies 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.279 within me, 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.539 I'm never going 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.000 to grow, 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.740 I'm never going 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.519 to make progress 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.139 in becoming 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.119 more like Jesus. 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:59.160 And David here 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.539 recognizes that. 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:00.680 God, 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.220 and he comes 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.759 to God 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.879 with brutal 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.799 honesty 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.500 and sets us 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.440 an amazing example 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:07.940 of the type 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.440 of honesty 00:25:08.440 --> 00:25:09.379 that we should bring 00:25:09.379 --> 00:25:10.539 in our confession 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.440 to God. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.779 Not brushing away 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.299 our problems, 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.879 not ignoring them, 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.599 not blaming them 00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.000 on others, 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.359 but taking full responsibility, 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.859 but then turning 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.420 to God 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.319 and begging 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.879 for mercy. 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.779 But even though 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.619 David sets us 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.359 this great example 00:25:26.359 --> 00:25:27.000 of honesty 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.359 that still doesn't 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.339 solve his problem 00:25:29.339 --> 00:25:31.039 of where his solution 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:32.159 is going to come from. 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:32.779 Because you see, 00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:33.679 here's the problem. 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.019 David here, 00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:36.299 he confesses his sin. 00:25:37.199 --> 00:25:38.259 In verse 4, 00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:39.319 he says, 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.819 against you 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.500 and you only 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.179 have I sinned 00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:43.039 and done what is evil 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:43.599 in your sight 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.519 so that you may be 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.659 justified in your words 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:46.279 and blameless 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.939 in your judgment. 00:25:47.179 --> 00:25:47.959 He praises 00:25:47.959 --> 00:25:49.539 God's justice. 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.059 Which, 00:25:52.179 --> 00:25:52.959 oh by the way, 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.199 demands that David 00:25:54.199 --> 00:25:54.939 die. 00:25:56.459 --> 00:25:57.179 And then 00:25:57.179 --> 00:25:58.159 he turns around 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.159 in the next breath 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.180 and pleads 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.759 to God 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.480 for mercy. 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:03.460 Now there's 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.360 a problem here. 00:26:05.600 --> 00:26:06.820 Because God's 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.460 justice 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:09.040 demands a payment 00:26:09.040 --> 00:26:09.779 for what 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.820 David has done. 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.000 God's justice 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.820 demands 00:26:12.820 --> 00:26:13.560 death 00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:15.420 for the adultery 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.080 and murder 00:26:16.080 --> 00:26:16.880 that David 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.620 has committed. 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:19.840 And yet David 00:26:19.840 --> 00:26:20.880 turns to God 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:23.220 and he says, 00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:23.640 God, 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.519 cleanse me. 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.540 God, 00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:26.460 forgive me. 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:27.460 God, 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.180 and it appears 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.220 at least on the surface 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.000 that David 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.180 is calling on God 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.120 to go against 00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.000 his own character. 00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.100 God, 00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.279 ignore your justice 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.279 so that I 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:37.600 can be saved. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.380 So how is it 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:41.880 possible 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:43.000 that God 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.880 can satisfy 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.740 his justice 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:46.100 and still show 00:26:46.100 --> 00:26:46.799 this mercy 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.500 and forgiveness 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.160 to David? 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.259 David? 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.240 Well, 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.100 if you go back 00:26:52.100 --> 00:26:54.060 to the story 00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:55.259 of Nathan's 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.700 confrontation 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:56.519 with David, 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:59.300 when David 00:26:59.300 --> 00:27:00.160 confesses, 00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.480 I have sinned, 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.300 Nathan tells David, 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.759 you will not die, 00:27:09.060 --> 00:27:09.519 but 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.060 the child 00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:11.960 born from your 00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.519 relationship 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.900 will die. 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:16.400 And about 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:17.100 a week later, 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.620 the baby 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.380 that Bathsheba 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.060 had had 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:20.440 after 00:27:20.440 --> 00:27:21.580 that night 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:22.160 with David 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:23.680 died. 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.360 And you know 00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:25.540 what? 00:27:25.580 --> 00:27:26.000 The death 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.640 of that baby 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:27.920 still did not 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.759 satisfy 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.800 God's 00:27:29.800 --> 00:27:30.340 need 00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:31.040 for justice 00:27:31.040 --> 00:27:32.160 because just 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.780 like David, 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:33.620 that baby 00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.220 was born 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.360 as a sinner. 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:35.960 However, 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.840 about a thousand 00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:39.200 years after 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.400 David's sin, 00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.100 another 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.920 descendant 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.720 would be born 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.340 from the 00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:44.820 line of 00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.120 David. 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:46.880 And this 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.420 descendant 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:47.779 would be 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.180 named 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.759 Jesus, 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:49.880 which means 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.800 the Lord 00:27:50.800 --> 00:27:52.220 is salvation. 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.220 And Jesus 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:54.900 would live 00:27:54.900 --> 00:27:56.420 33 years 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.420 of perfect 00:27:57.420 --> 00:27:57.980 obedience 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.740 to God. 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.480 And after 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.680 33 years 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.300 of perfect 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:02.779 obedience 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.279 to God, 00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:03.860 Jesus would 00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.640 stand on 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.480 trial before 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.120 a man 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:06.740 named 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.360 Pilate. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.100 And as 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.779 the crowds 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.840 shout out, 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.440 crucify him, 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.940 crucify him, 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:15.340 crucify him, 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.940 Pilate 00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.940 utters words 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.559 that are 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.740 eerily reminiscent 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:21.380 of the words 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.900 that Nathan 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:22.700 spoke to 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:22.980 David. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:24.880 Nathan said, 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.519 you are 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:26.039 the man. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.259 And as 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.740 the crowds 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.340 cry out, 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.240 crucify him, 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.279 crucify him, 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.220 Pilate 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.140 shouts out 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:32.779 to the crowds, 00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.700 behold 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.759 the man, 00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:37.140 Jesus. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.880 Hours 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.220 later, 00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.820 Jesus is 00:28:40.820 --> 00:28:41.240 hung up 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:41.960 on a cross. 00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.319 He dies. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.500 The one 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.039 person in 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.420 history 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.140 who had 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:48.799 lived the 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.460 perfect life, 00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.900 the one 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.420 person in 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.900 history who 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.420 did not 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.539 deserve that 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.000 death, 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.420 is killed. 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.299 And in 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.880 that moment, 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.700 as Jesus 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.579 hung on 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.240 the cross, 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:02.920 God's 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.559 justice 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.859 for David's 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.680 sin was 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.259 satisfied 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.059 because a 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.940 debt of 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.400 death 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.400 was paid 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:11.420 by someone 00:29:11.420 --> 00:29:12.000 who didn't 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.360 owe it 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:12.880 himself. 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.720 And yet 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.019 at the 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:15.620 same moment, 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:16.100 God's 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:16.720 mercy is 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.100 able to 00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:17.560 be shown 00:29:17.560 --> 00:29:18.080 to David 00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:18.980 because that 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.440 debt was 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.300 paid by 00:29:20.300 --> 00:29:20.780 a willing 00:29:20.780 --> 00:29:21.519 substitute. 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.280 Jesus 00:29:24.280 --> 00:29:25.080 was the 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.259 only solution 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.519 to David's 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:27.740 sin. 00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.840 He was 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.680 the perfect 00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.300 solution 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.360 to David's 00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:32.560 sin. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:32.679 sin. 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.740 And just 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.159 as Jesus 00:29:35.159 --> 00:29:35.679 was the 00:29:35.679 --> 00:29:36.740 only solution 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.799 to David's 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.139 sin and 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.599 the perfect 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.679 solution for 00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:40.119 David's 00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:40.359 sin, 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.919 Jesus is 00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:42.419 also the 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:43.179 way that 00:29:43.179 --> 00:29:44.000 God can 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.839 be just 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:46.859 today and 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.399 yet show 00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:48.119 mercy to 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.679 you and 00:29:48.679 --> 00:29:49.720 me in 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.240 the moments 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.200 of our 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.319 sin and 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.659 failure. 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.619 If you're 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:55.980 not a 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.500 Christian here 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:56.779 today, 00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:58.019 I urge 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:59.839 you to 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.579 trust in 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.879 Jesus for 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.319 this 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.000 forgiveness 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.639 that God 00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.339 offers us. 00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.359 So we 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.460 have the 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:10.879 heart of 00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.500 the problem 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.339 in sin. 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:13.119 We have the 00:30:13.119 --> 00:30:13.879 only solution 00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:14.419 in Jesus, 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.639 but then we 00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:16.179 have a 00:30:16.179 --> 00:30:17.039 life-changing 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.960 conclusion. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.199 If you look 00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:20.000 at verse 12 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.539 and 13, 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.000 it says, 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:21.699 restore to 00:30:21.699 --> 00:30:22.319 me the joy 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.599 of your 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:23.339 salvation and 00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.919 uphold me 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:24.240 with a 00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:24.819 willing spirit. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:25.859 Then I 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.319 will teach 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.059 transgressors 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.039 your ways and 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.960 sinners will 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:29.699 return to 00:30:29.699 --> 00:30:29.899 you. 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:30.440 What we 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:30.940 see right 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.700 here is 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.259 that David 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.280 promises God, 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:33.720 if you 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.380 forgive me, 00:30:34.600 --> 00:30:35.019 then I 00:30:35.019 --> 00:30:35.540 will live 00:30:35.540 --> 00:30:36.259 my life 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:37.340 on mission. 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.060 We have 00:30:40.060 --> 00:30:40.540 these signs 00:30:40.540 --> 00:30:40.960 up on the 00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.400 stage every 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:41.560 week, 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:41.960 gospel, 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:42.560 community, 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:43.100 mission. 00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:44.480 And there 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:44.700 is a 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.000 community 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:45.560 aspect to 00:30:45.560 --> 00:30:46.000 this too, 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:46.300 but for 00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:46.600 the sake 00:30:46.600 --> 00:30:47.100 of time, 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:47.400 we're going 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:47.780 to skip 00:30:47.780 --> 00:30:48.200 over that 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:48.480 today. 00:30:48.800 --> 00:30:49.160 But what 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:49.660 we believe 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:49.960 here at 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.560 Watermark is 00:30:50.560 --> 00:30:50.980 that as 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.519 we believe 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.060 the gospel, 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:52.460 which is 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:52.920 that good 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.740 news about 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.340 the forgiveness 00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.000 that's available 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.880 to us in 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.160 Jesus, 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.380 that that 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.180 transforms our 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.940 hearts and 00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.560 leads us to 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.619 live life in 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.720 community and 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:02.500 on mission, 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.599 going out and 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.399 telling others 00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:05.440 this good news 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.039 about the 00:31:06.039 --> 00:31:07.079 forgiveness and 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:08.059 life and hope 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.399 available to us 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.220 through the 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.319 sacrifice of 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:11.599 Jesus. 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.759 And David says 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.200 to God, 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.279 if you will 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.339 forgive me, 00:31:17.159 --> 00:31:19.019 I will go and 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.359 tell everyone 00:31:20.359 --> 00:31:21.779 about how amazing 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.899 and fantastic 00:31:22.899 --> 00:31:24.359 you are and 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.519 how great your 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.460 forgiveness is. 00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.620 God bless you 00:31:27.620 --> 00:31:28.079 and if you're 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:29.140 here today and 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:29.440 you're a 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:29.720 Christian, 00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.200 I want to 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:30.759 ask you, 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.400 how are you 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:32.860 doing with 00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.319 sharing your 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:33.620 faith? 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.519 My challenge 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:36.940 to you, 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.220 share your 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:38.759 faith this 00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:39.059 week. 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.660 And I know 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.180 we usually 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.860 want to focus 00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:43.480 on heart 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:44.000 change, 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.640 not just 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:45.440 action change, 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:45.920 but this is 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.579 an action that 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.460 reveals what's 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.519 in our hearts. 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.900 I talk to 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.579 many Christians, 00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:52.620 including myself, 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.219 yeah, 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.039 I talk to 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.439 myself, 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:56.919 who have 00:31:56.919 --> 00:31:58.000 trouble with 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.839 this idea of 00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.399 sharing our 00:31:59.399 --> 00:31:59.619 faith. 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:01.259 It feels 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.679 awkward, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.199 it feels 00:32:02.199 --> 00:32:02.679 uncomfortable, 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:03.479 and I'm 00:32:03.479 --> 00:32:03.859 going to throw 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.519 this out there. 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:06.379 I think the 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.359 reason so many 00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:07.919 of us have 00:32:07.919 --> 00:32:08.679 trouble sharing 00:32:08.679 --> 00:32:09.159 with others 00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.679 about who 00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:10.939 Jesus is is 00:32:10.939 --> 00:32:11.399 because we 00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.419 haven't experienced 00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:13.079 the type of 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:14.079 forgiveness that 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.619 David is 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.759 experiencing right 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.019 here. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.659 I'm not talking 00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.219 about forgiveness 00:32:18.219 --> 00:32:19.099 for adultery and 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:19.559 murder, no, 00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:20.279 I'm talking about 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.299 forgiveness that 00:32:21.299 --> 00:32:22.079 goes down to 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:22.599 the core of 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:23.399 who we are. 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.699 Forgiveness that 00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:27.019 confesses that 00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.279 we're not good 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:29.019 people who just 00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.500 had a bad 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:31.359 moment, but we're 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.179 sinners to the 00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.799 core of our 00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.439 being and we 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.379 need God to 00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:35.339 rescue us from 00:32:35.339 --> 00:32:36.319 the inside out. 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.759 I have lived so 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.559 much of my life 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.679 with this feeling 00:32:41.679 --> 00:32:42.599 that I'm generally 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.779 a good person who 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:44.659 just needs God to 00:32:44.659 --> 00:32:45.779 come in and help 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.480 me out around the 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.319 edges when I make 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:48.240 my occasional mess 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:48.519 ups. 00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.659 And living my 00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:51.219 life with that 00:32:51.219 --> 00:32:52.339 attitude has led 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:54.139 to pride, it's 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:54.919 led to shame in 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.379 the moments where 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:57.139 I do mess up, and 00:32:57.139 --> 00:32:58.379 it's led to a fear 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.279 of sharing my 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.199 faith because what 00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:01.399 will others think if 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.099 they know that I do 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:03.059 occasionally mess up? 00:33:04.259 --> 00:33:05.859 And the amazing news 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.619 of the gospel, the 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.539 amazing message of 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.939 this chapter is that 00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:09.859 all of us are 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.359 desperately messed up 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.399 from the moment that 00:33:12.399 --> 00:33:13.119 we were conceived 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.519 inside our mother's 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:14.879 wombs. 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:24.160 people who need 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.080 salvation from 00:33:25.080 --> 00:33:26.020 outside of us. 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.780 It can be tempting 00:33:29.780 --> 00:33:31.420 to look at David 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.780 and think, how could 00:33:32.780 --> 00:33:33.040 he? 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:35.300 How could he steal 00:33:35.300 --> 00:33:36.220 his neighbor's wife and 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.900 then have his neighbor 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:38.680 murdered to cover up 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.080 for him? 00:33:39.079 --> 00:33:41.359 But if I'm being 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.579 totally honest, the 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.839 attitudes inside his 00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.859 heart that led him to 00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.960 do those things are all 00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:47.059 present in my heart. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.839 Lust, 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.259 self-centeredness, 00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:54.220 and overwhelming 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:56.099 urge for self-preservation, 00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:58.859 all of these things are 00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.859 present in my heart. 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:01.720 There's nothing about 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:04.259 what David did that's 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.220 any worse than the 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.519 desires inside my heart, 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.660 and I'm guessing all 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.320 of our hearts. 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:12.119 All of us are sinful 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:13.179 like David. 00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:16.539 All of us need mercy 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:18.579 like David, but all of 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:21.219 us have a Savior in 00:34:21.219 --> 00:34:23.059 Jesus who has come to 00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:24.340 forgive us and make us 00:34:24.340 --> 00:34:24.699 anew. 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:26.559 And when we realize how 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:28.179 desperately wicked we are 00:34:28.179 --> 00:34:29.280 and how amazingly, 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:31.079 abundantly merciful he 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:34.239 is, that should lead 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:34.820 to joy. 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:38.039 Because when we realize 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:39.079 that we're worse than we 00:34:39.079 --> 00:34:40.420 ever dreamed, but we are 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.480 more loved than we could 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:44.599 ever have hoped, we 00:34:44.599 --> 00:34:45.440 realize that we are 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:45.780 free. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.639 And when we're joyful 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:49.780 about something, we want 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.480 to share that with 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.780 others. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:51.579 That's our natural 00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.639 response as humans. 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:55.380 Which is why David says, 00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:57.500 God, I'm a sinner. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:59.420 I need your mercy. 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:00.780 But when I receive it, 00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.880 when I see how abundant 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:04.639 your forgiveness is, I 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:06.420 will share with others 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.960 about how great and 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:09.299 forgiving you are. 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:11.699 And so my challenge for 00:35:11.699 --> 00:35:13.500 us today is to be honest 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:14.839 with ourselves and with 00:35:14.839 --> 00:35:16.440 God about the sin in our 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:18.500 hearts, to turn to Jesus 00:35:18.500 --> 00:35:22.000 as the only solution for 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:24.659 our problem, and then to 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.980 live our lives on mission 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:27.839 as a response to what God 00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:28.920 has done for us. 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:31.780 And something that's 00:35:31.780 --> 00:35:33.220 really cool to me about 00:35:33.220 --> 00:35:36.039 this passage is that with 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:38.579 David, the sinful thing 00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:41.599 that he did, it could have 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.200 crushed him. 00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.460 It could have caused him to 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.680 go run into a hole and 00:35:45.680 --> 00:35:47.280 hide because he didn't want 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:49.380 anyone to see his face 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:51.659 after knowing how messed up 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.320 he was. 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:57.880 But instead, God takes this 00:35:57.880 --> 00:36:00.340 moment of terrible decisions 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:02.360 and terrible consequences 00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:04.260 and uses it for something 00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:05.820 good and beautiful in 00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.420 David's life. 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:13.240 He uses the sin to lead 00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:15.200 David to share with people 00:36:15.200 --> 00:36:16.720 of his day and with us 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:19.080 about how great God's 00:36:19.080 --> 00:36:19.980 forgiveness is. 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:22.300 And that same pattern of 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.780 God taking these things, 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:26.800 these times of sin in our 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.780 lives and making something 00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:28.840 beautiful out of them 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:30.840 carries through today as 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.079 well. 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:34.000 The amazing truth is that 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:37.019 God takes our sins and 00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:38.800 makes them beautiful by 00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:41.199 using us as canvases where 00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:42.840 he can paint masterpieces of 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:44.500 his mercy for the watching 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.320 world to see. 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.679 He paints masterpieces of 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:50.500 his mercy in our lives for 00:36:50.500 --> 00:36:51.619 the watching world to see 00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:53.359 so that as we are forgiven, 00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:55.099 as we trust in this good 00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:58.139 news, others can be drawn 00:36:58.139 --> 00:36:59.159 to him as well. 00:37:01.859 --> 00:37:04.559 And you know, God knows 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.579 that we're forgetful people. 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.500 This message is so simple. 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.299 We're messed up. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.719 Jesus saves us. 00:37:12.779 --> 00:37:12.960 Yay. 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:15.980 And yet in my life, I forget 00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:17.260 that so often. 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:20.199 I forget step one, that I'm 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:20.760 messed up. 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:22.440 And I think I'm an okay 00:37:22.440 --> 00:37:22.840 person. 00:37:24.280 --> 00:37:25.420 In the moments where I do 00:37:25.420 --> 00:37:27.039 mess up, I forget that Jesus 00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:28.019 saves me. 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:32.079 And then I forget to be 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.360 thankful and celebrate him. 00:37:33.780 --> 00:37:35.260 And God, knowing how 00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:37.019 forgetful we are, has built 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:39.019 into the rhythm of the 00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:40.579 church's life, certain 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:45.099 things to remind us of his 00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:46.880 great love and his great 00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:47.179 mercy. 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:49.019 And one of those things is 00:37:49.019 --> 00:37:49.420 communion. 00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:52.699 As we gather for communion, 00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:55.840 this is a time that God has 00:37:55.840 --> 00:37:57.619 given us to remind ourselves 00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:59.159 and to proclaim to the world 00:37:59.159 --> 00:38:00.780 around us the fact that Jesus 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:02.860 is our only solution. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:06.739 As we eat the bread that's a 00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:08.360 picture of Christ's body for us, 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:11.180 and as we drink the wine that's 00:38:11.180 --> 00:38:14.280 a picture of his blood, it's a 00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:16.240 way of physically reminding 00:38:16.240 --> 00:38:18.579 ourselves of the fact that the 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:22.059 blood of Jesus is perfect, is 00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:23.960 enough to forgive us for our 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.320 sins. 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:26.539 And as we eat the bread and 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:28.140 drink the wine, we're showing 00:38:28.140 --> 00:38:30.500 those around us and proclaiming 00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:32.180 to the world around us that we 00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:35.500 do believe that the blood of 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:38.480 Jesus is all we need to forgive 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.940 us for our sins. 00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:40.320 Amen. 00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:40.880 Amen. 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.320 Amen. 00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:41.380 Amen. 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:41.440 Amen. 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:41.500 Amen. 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:41.519 Amen. 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:41.579 Amen. 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:41.719 Amen. 00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:41.780 Amen. 00:38:41.780 --> 00:38:41.840 Amen. 00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:41.860 Amen. 00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:41.880 Amen.