 Taek Kim |
Ash
Wednesday Meditation Sermon:
Scripture: |
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These
verses in Psalm 51 were written by King David after he was
confronted by the prophet Nathan about David’s affair with
Bathsheba. Not only did he have an affair with Bathsheba, but
after finding out that she was pregnant, David called her
husband, Uriah, from battle. He was summoned and told to go
home to his wife. David wanted to be able to say that Uriah
got Bathsheba pregnant during his stay at home. But Uriah
refused to go home, sleeping at the king’s doorsteps, only
thinking of his men back on the battlefield. David then sent
Uriah back to battle, to the front lines, where he died. Now, David
was not free from accountability and his sins. David was
ultimately accountable to God. God sent Nathan to tell David
of his sins and the consequences he had to face. Nathan
delivered words that brought a non-repentant King David to his
knees, fully realizing his sins.
David was truly convicted and repented of his sins,
mourning with the fear of losing the presence of the Holy
Spirit within him. In verse 11, David said, “Do not cast me
away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from
me.” David feared rejection and abandonment. Though
there were grave consequences for his sins, God did forgive
him, not abandoning him nor taking away the Holy Spirit from
him. God forgave and cleansed his heart, making in him a will
that would not so easily fall into sin again. But there were
consequences for his actions that harmed others. Those who
immediately suffered from David’s sins were, obviously,
Bathsheba and Uriah. Even the innocent, like the baby born to
David and Bathsheba, suffered, for seven days after its birth,
the baby died. I know this
is a “heavy” story, full of sadness and tragedy. The Old
Testament is an honest and un-bashful account of our human
history. And today is a “heavy” day that calls us to
remember our sins, knowing that God brings us to repentance
through a grieving and remorseful heart. This is not
because we enjoy feeling this way. It is because in
remembering our relationship with God, God’s great love for
us, and our sins that separated us from God, that we can
approach God’s throne of grace. God knows we are not
perfect. God’s will for us is to keep from sinning; sinning
less and less, so to focus on loving and doing right more and
more. As in our
relationship with family and friends, we know that our sins
against one another—especially those that increase and
persist—bring only heartache and broken relationships. What
seems to heal broken relationships are not only words of
apology, acts of retribution, and promises to change (though
change is always a very effective way to help in healing), but
a truly repentant and sorrowful heart makes a world of
difference. For if the one offended does not sense a genuine
heart of remorse, no words or actions will help in the healing
process. We see a
lack of remorse many times in our life and throughout the
world. What brings people to a place of true repentance is
God’s Spirit convicting them, bringing them to a place of
forgiveness and renewal. We must
take time to consider what we have done or not done, letting
the Holy Spirit clear our clouded eyes and seeing ourselves as
God sees us. God sees us with a holy and loving heart. When we
see our sins as God sees them, we only seek to be cleansed by
God. God’s love draws us to a place of repentance, wanting
to be forgiven. For in being freed from sin and death, we are
able to more fully love and be loved. Sometimes
repentance takes place after someone brings his/her grievances
to you. Other times, a third or outside party comes with words
of conviction and a call to repentance, as Nathan did for
David. We have
hope with God—hope of forgiveness, change, renewal, and
something beautiful that we cannot yet see when in the midst
of sin and repentance. As in King David’s life, we also have
the hope of God’s redeeming grace and sustaining love. After David
repented, he took Bathsheba as his wife. God continued his
line of descendants with another child through Bathsheba. This
child led his family to Joseph who married Mary, the mother of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Thus, the Old Testament
prophecy was fulfilled, that through the line of David would
come a messiah, the Christ. I invite
you now to enter into a time of prayer, having assurance of
God’s love, grace, and even blessing. Ask God to search your
heart and reveal to you the areas where you need to confess
and ask forgiveness. After a few moments I will offer prayers
for our country and world, including those who suffer
needlessly, and for us to be agents of God’s grace and love.
Let us pray… These prayers we offer through Jesus Christ, who gave his life that all might be reconciled and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Amen.
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