Psalm 51:12 – Verse of the Day 8/26/14

If you think about it, while so much of the Bible is very encouraging and joyful, it also includes a lot of hard stories that are very difficult to read. Many of the “heroes” of the Bible also did very terrible things. Why do you think God included those terrible things in the Bible?

One of the most sobering examples of sin in the Bible may be seen in the life of King David. Imagine how David must have felt after he first committed adultery and then committed murder in an attempt to cover it up.

In fact, Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance and it shows us exactly how he felt. The Psalm not only includes David’s heartfelt cry, but also communicates wonderful truths about God’s grace and patience. It also reminds us to cling to the promises of God, just as David did in this verse.

The Bible is not a whitewashed narrative of rose-tinted stories, but an honest portrayal of human sin and God’s merciful response. Thank the Lord that he forgives those who repent and turn to Him, and spend some time in prayer, honestly laying your sins before Him and asking for forgiveness. Take comfort from the knowledge that we worship a God who does not despise a broken and contrite heart (verse 17).