Examining the Repentance and Restoration of David

In the last episode, we examined the downfall of David as he committed sin. In this episode, we continue to examine King David’s life but as he is confronted for the sin by the prophet Nathan and David’s repentance and restoration.

Using 2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51 as the basis of our investigation, you will be reminded of the significance and travesty of sin but also of God’s extravagant willingness to forgive, restore, redeem, and enable you to walk in triumph.

For those who have struggled with forgiveness or are harboring a secret sin or habitual addition or sin, this message will stir you to come before the Cross of Christ in repentance and faith and to walk in freedom, triumph, and victory. 

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Show Notes / Additional Resources

• 2 Samuel 11:27 – “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”
  • “Displeased” – means to tremble or quiver (translated as: displeased, grieve, sad, ill, evil)
• Unknown Author: “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”
• 2 Samuel 12:1-7 – Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. “The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. “But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. “And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! “And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
• 2 Samuel 12:10 – “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”
• Romans 6:1-2 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
• 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• David was a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22).
• Psalm 51:10-13 – 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. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
• Psalm 51:1-3 – Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
  • Have Mercy [chanan] – to be gracious, show favor, pity
  • According to Your loving kindness [checed] – goodness, kindness, faithfulness, mercy, favour, goodliness
    • 53 Psalms use the word – esp Ps 136 (every verse)
    • Also see: Exodus 15:13; Numbers 14:19; Psalm 25:6, 33:5, 40:11
  • According to the multitude [rob] – multitude, abundance, greatness, numerous, plenty (Used throughout the Psalms to describe the limitless and grandness of God’s mercy)
  • Of Your tender mercies [racham] – womb, compassion, bowels (heart = seat of emotions), mercy, tender love
  • Blot out [machah] – to wipe out, to blot out, obliterate, exterminate, destroy, abolish
  • My transgressions [pesha] – transgression, rebellion (sometimes translated: sin)
  • Wash [kabac] – to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller [to wash garments or a person]
  • Me thoroughly [rabah] – be or become great, be or become many, be/become much/numerous, to multiply, increase (greatly or exceedingly) … The Hebrew grammar has a strong connotation suggesting: “don’t just throw a bucket of water on me, but scrub me greatly and exceedingly until all my iniquity is gone”
  • From my iniquity [avon] – perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity, punishment, consequence
  • And cleanse [taher] – to be clean, be pure, cleanse, purify, to pronounce clean, to perform the ceremony of cleansing 
    • Used of the kings when they purged the high places
    • The emphasis appears to be on the ceremonial cleansing, not just mere washing
    • See Psalm 51:7; Ezekiel 36:25, 33
  • Me from my sin [chatta’ath] – sin, sinful, condition of sin
  • Acknowledge [yada] – to know (the Greek translation states: ginosko)
  • Transgressions [pesha] – rebellion [Used in verse one for “destroy my rebellion
  • Sin [chatta’ath] – ceremonial unclean (sin)
  • Always before me [tamiyd] – continuous, perpetually, to stretch

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About NRJohnson & the Deeper Christian Podcast

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

The Deeper Christian Podcast is the podcast to help you study God’s Word, know Jesus intimately, and discover how you can build your life around Jesus Christ. This weekly audio program, hosted by NRJohnson, dives into Scripture and encourages Christians to keep their focus upon Jesus Christ—equipping believers in how to study the Bible and know God’s Word, grow in their spiritual lives, and change the world. Main discussion topics center around practical advice on Christian living, Bible study, prayer, the Gospel, freedom from sin, evangelism and how to share your faith, the Christian disciplines, and the lives and messages from the Christian heroes from yesteryear such as A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Major Ian Thomas, Oswald Chambers, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, C.T. Studd, George Müller, Andrew Murray, Leonard Ravenhill, E.M. Bounds, and others. Learn more about the deeper Christian life.