King David’s Sin, Confession and Repentance – What God Desires in Worship

Ritual Church Worship

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” -Psa 51:1 (KJV)

King David was the apple of God’s eye yet he sinned and sinned badly. He was the King anointed by the Prophet Samuel to rule all of Israel, yet he stumbled and fell and was not removed from being the king by Almighty God. Why? King David engaged in adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed in one of the wars that was being waged at that time. This was not good especially from a man chosen by God Himself to lead the people of Israel.

I think we have to look at the scripture to see just what David did about this once he was told of his sins. In Psalm 51, we read David’s prayer to God concerning his sins. This is a pattern for us – we who call ourselves Christians these days. Take a moment to read it, it’s not very long.

David poured out his heart before the Lord in sincere acknowledge of his iniquities. He pleaded with God to purify his heart and renew a steadfast spirit within him. He asked that the Lord would not cast him out of His presence and not to take His Holy Spirit from him. King David knew the presence of the Lord but yet he still sinned. He knew that within him dwelt  the Holy Spirit; he knew God’s presence was with him. Yet this great man sinned. How about us…? Are we aware of our sins these days or do we turn aside and just keep sinning like always?

Friends, this is a tremendous in-our-face example for us who call ourselves Christians.

You see the man appointed, ordained and sanctioned by God Himself fell and fell hard. Then he didn’t just pompously or arrogantly keep going along the same path of sin, pleasure and ruining others lives. He realized his mistakes and sought the Lord but not with just casual or superficial means. He was serious about seeking God and he knew the difference between sincere and insincere or fake worship. Take a look at Psa 51:15-17.

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16- You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17- My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” -Psa 51:15-17 (NASB)

Here is where the tire hits the road concerning what worship is and what it is not. Read the verses above and understand that God doesn’t delight in our Sunday morning or evening ‘ritual’ services that many attend just to be seen. With some dosing off, some falling asleep, some raise their hands in singing while others say ‘amen’. You see God doesn’t delight in worship that is not sincere. The burnt offering was the most important of all offerings that the ancient Israelites could offer before the Lord and without the right intend of people’s hearts it was worthless. Did you hear that? Read Isa 1:11 and Jer 6:20

The Lord doesn’t desire our ritual worship times, where our hearts and minds are not tuned into Him. We must be focused on Him and ready to do something about our sin at every opportunity.

Every one of our Christian services should be about identifying our sin before a Holy God. In every one of our services people should acknowledge and repent of their sin. God doesn’t take pleasure in our fake ritual “sacrifices’ in worship. He wants broken people, those aware of their sin, those with a contrite heart and those that repent of their sin – Psa 51:17. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “A contrite heart is one in which the natural pride and self-sufficiency have been completely humbled by the consciousness of guilt”. In the OT, contrite means being “crushed” or “broken to pieces”. How about you, are you crushed about your sin?

When you go to church or when you go to worship are you broken over your sin? Are you even aware of your sin? Does your pastor or priest even mention the word “sin”? How about repentance…?

Folks, we live in a time of great deception; we even deceive ourselves thinking our regular ritualistic church attendance means something in God’s eye. It doesn’t! Please reexamine why you even go to church, what you hear, what you do, what you say. Make it real and not fake. Imagine you standing before the Lord when you pray and seek Him. Don’t think yourself some self-righteous church goer that stands right before God but never acknowledging your sin or repenting of it. Avoid, like the plague, churches and pastors who want to entertain you with contemporary me-first, it’s-about-me teaching that centers on self-righteous thought and action. IN other words, the Bible takes a back seat in their ministry. If any Christian church anywhere is not teaching the conviction of sin (John 16:8; Isa 6:5) then they are fake churches with false teachers – flee from them!

 —>>> Church attendance without repentance is worthless and useless before a Holy and Righteous God. <<<—

Church attendance without repentance is worthless and useless before a Holy and Righteous God. <<<—

“”For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” -Isaiah 66:2 (NASB)

 

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman

 

HE IS LORD!

PJA-Red1

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