Summer Playlist: The Great Lament

Summer In The Psalms

Psalm 51 – the Great Lament

Pastor Harry Stambaugh

Lament or Complaint 

Lament means to regret strongly, have sorrow, mourn – it is inwardly focused 

Complaint is the cause or subject of outcry or protest – it is outwardly focused 

A Penitential Psalm 

Expresses sorrow for sin and leads to atonement and repentance 

It shows a contrite heart – where remorse and penitence guide the emotions 

The King Stays Home 

“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” 

(2 Samuel 11:1) 

A great temptation 

A disastrous decision 

David’s Plan B 

A great cover up 

A heinous decision 

The Confrontation 

“David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."”  Nathan responded, “"You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the  hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives  into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah  the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.” 

The Consequences 

“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'  “This is what the Lord says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring  calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel." 

(2 Sam 12:7-12)  

The Lament begins 

“Have Mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (vs.1-2) 

No denial of guilt by David 

Instead David seeks the mercy of God 

A Biblical Truth  

All sin is against God alone 

We injure others and are guilty of hurting them 

But sin is against the only Holy One  

God is truth 

Truth comes from within 

David doesn’t cover up, has no false humility, no façade  

God not only speaks truth, God is truth and desires truth from His people 

A Desire to be Clean Again 

A Plea for cleansing 

A Return to relationship 

A Restoration of the joy and gladness of God’s salvation 

A Pure Heart and a Steadfast Spirit  

A spiritual heart transplant 

A strong spirit to overcome weakness and wavering 

A request to again know the “joy of Your salvation 

David’s Response to God’s Grace  

Declaring God’s righteousness 

Making God’s glory known 

A Continuing Impact  

The Sacrifice God Really Wants 

A broken spirit, humility, to replace a proud spirit  

A contrite heart – true remorse and the desire to be changed by God 

God is no respecter of people, David’s prominence and relationship with  God makes him the perfect example of God’s justice and mercy  

A move from plea to intercession 

David moves from pleading his case to his interceding for his nation 

The role of a true leader is to seek God on behalf of his people 

As God blesses His people, their sacrifices will be pleasing to God 

Forgiveness and Consequences 

Sin affects both the sinner and other innocent people as well 

Forgiveness is available to all who seek God in repentance 

Forgiveness does not mean that there will not be consequences  

Forgiveness does restore relationship with God 

Our Response 

The Spirit is our Guide, our Counselor and our Source of Power 

As we learn to listen to The Spirit, He will direct us to recognize and run from sinful choices 

When we follow the direction of The Spirit we will experience the joy of the Lord, the very thing that David was seeking to regain!