CONFESSION-THEN INSTRUCfION
Ivan Burgener
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:13
David had sinned in the matter of Bathsheba. This sin was followed by another
heinous crime: He had Bathsheba's husband killed in battle-murder. It is hard
to tell just how far _ this would have gone and how many sins the
"cover-up" would
have involved had not God intervened through His prophet Nathan. This 51st
Psalm is the record of David's confession-and what a confession it was! There
is no self defense. We don't hear David making excuses like, "If only she
had not been exposed and caught my eye." Or, "Why wasn't she in the
house where she belonged?" Or, like another [Adam] once said, "The
woman ... Thou gavestto be with me ... " In short, God's fault, her fault.
David's confession was thorough. This "man after God's own heart" had
truly taken God's side against himself, and this is what true confession and
repentance is all about. David asks God to "Purge . Wash .... Create a
clean heart .... Renew a right spirit .... Cast me not away .... Restore the
joy .... Uphold me with Thy free spirit." Then, and only then, could he
"teach the transgressors Thy ways, and sinners be converted unto Thee.
" In short, David had to first be restored to the Lord through his
own confession of sin before the Lord could use him to teach and lead others.
This great principle is transdispensational. That is, it is good for all time.
Notice Paul's words to Timothy, "Take heed to thyself, and unto the
doctrine [teaching]" (I Timothy 4:16). Not that Timothy was caught up in
sin at the time, nor did he have a matter like David to settle between himself
and -the Lord, but the order is the same. Only when our lives are in tune
with God, as revealed in His Word, can we be the vessels "unto honor,
sanctified, and meet for the Master's use" (II Timothy 2:21).
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:13
David had sinned in the matter of Bathsheba. This sin was followed by another heinous crime: He had Bathsheba's husband killed in battle-murder. It is hard to tell just how far _ this would have gone and how many sins the "cover-up" would
have involved had not God intervened through His prophet Nathan. This 51st Psalm is the record of David's confession-and what a confession it was! There is no self defense. We don't hear David making excuses like, "If only she had not been exposed and caught my eye." Or, "Why wasn't she in the house where she belonged?" Or, like another [Adam] once said, "The woman ... Thou gavestto be with me ... " In short, God's fault, her fault.
David's confession was thorough. This "man after God's own heart" had truly taken God's side against himself, and this is what true confession and repentance is all about. David asks God to "Purge . Wash .... Create a clean heart .... Renew a right spirit .... Cast me not away .... Restore the joy .... Uphold me with Thy free spirit." Then, and only then, could he "teach the transgressors Thy ways, and sinners be converted unto Thee. " In short, David had to first be restored to the Lord through his own confession of sin before the Lord could use him to teach and lead others.
This great principle is transdispensational. That is, it is good for all time. Notice Paul's words to Timothy, "Take heed to thyself, and unto the doctrine [teaching]" (I Timothy 4:16). Not that Timothy was caught up in sin at the time, nor did he have a matter like David to settle between himself and -the Lord, but the order is the same. Only when our lives are in tune with God, as revealed in His Word, can we be the vessels "unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use" (II Timothy 2:21).
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