Sermon: B & C
…a sermon
about Psalm 51:17
by Chris Cumming
In 2 Samuel 11, you are all aware of the
account of King David and his sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the
murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite.
Prior to getting into the next chapter, one might wonder if David
realized what he had done. He seems oblivious to the sins he had
committed. In one commentary I read, “but his conscience was still
asleep.” That is, David technically realized what he had done but he
never really allowed it to convict him. He was somehow blinded to the
seriousness of what he had done. We see this blindness of David’s mind
as we begin to read Chapter 12. Follow along as I read the opening
verses of Chapter 12.
2 Samuel 12: 1-7a
1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said
unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other
poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had
bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his
children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay
in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of
his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that
was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the
man that was come to him.
5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to
Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall
surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and
because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
At this point, the conscience of David was no longer asleep. Notice
verse 13.
2 Samuel 12:13
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan
said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not
die.
This leads us to the very profound repentance of David we read about in
Psalm 51. Let us read the first seventeen verses of this nineteen-verse
chapter.
Psalm 51:1-17
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came
unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy
tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy
sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear
when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive
me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden
part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast
broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within
me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from
me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free
spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and
my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Today, we are going to focus our discussion on verse 17. What is a
broken spirit? What is a broken and contrite heart? Is it possible for
the conscious of a firstfruit to be asleep regarding a sin or some
negative element in their lives? It is possible for a firstfruit to be
blind to or oblivious to some flaw in their character? How does God
bring one to a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart? What do
we do then?
The purpose of this sermon is to answer all of these questions as we
prepare ourselves to offer Almighty God our broken and contrite hearts
as a sacrifice
Offer to God a broken
spirit and a contrite heart.
Let us begin by immersing ourselves in verse 17, which we just read.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit
-That is humbled under a sense of sin; has true repentance for it; is smitten,
wounded, and broken with it, by the word of God, which is a hammer to break the
rock in pieces; and that not merely in a legal, but in an evangelical way;
grieving for sin as committed against a God of love; broken and melted down
under a sense of it, in a view of pardoning grace; and mourning for it, while
beholding a pierced and wounded Saviour: the sacrifices of such a broken heart
and contrite spirit are the sacrifices God desires, approves, accepts of, and
delights in. ~John Gill
Note: One can experience this broken
spirit for known sin as well as sin that is revealed by God after the firstfruit
has been blind to it for some time. We are focusing on the sins and negative
elements of our character and/or personalities to which we have been blind to
for weeks, months, years and even decades.
The commentary is stating that the firstfruit is, “smitten, wounded and broken
with it.” In these cases the firstfruit is smitten and wounded not only for the
sin or negative element but for realizing he or she has been blind to it for so
long. That commentary says the individual is “broken and melted down under a
sense of it.” God brings the firstfruit to this broken spirit condition to
insure that he sees the sin or flaw clearly. There is nothing here to indicate
that God does this each and every time one sins or demonstrates a specific
character or personality flaw. However, when it is His will to do so, He will
allow it to happen. We can liken this event to a person in therapeutic
counselling where he has what they call, “a break through” or moment of clarity
regarding what is happening in their lives. Such a breakthrough can be a most
profound moment in one’s entire life. Such a breakthrough can result in a
quantum leap of personal healing and character growth.
In 1901, some twelve years before he served as President of the United States,
Woodrow Wilson [Ph. D, Doctor of Letters and Doctor of Law]
wrote the book, “When a Man Comes to Himself.” Let me read some text from the
first page of that book [the entire book is but fourteen pages].
Understand this is the President speaking in 1901.
“It is a very wholesome and regenerating change which a man undergoes when he
‘comes to himself.’ It is not only after periods of recklessness or
infatuation, when he has played the spendthrift or the fool, that a man comes to
himself. He comes to himself after experiences of which he alone may be aware:
when he has left off being wholly preoccupied with his own powers and interests
and with every petty plan that centers in himself; when he has cleared his eyes
to see the world [and himself] as it
is, and his own true place and function in it.
“It is a process of disillusionment [being freed from illusion or
erroneous belief]. The scales have fallen away.
He sees himself soberly, and knows under what conditions his powers must act, as
well as what his powers are. He has got rid of earlier prepossessions [predilection,
liking, bias] about the world of men and affairs,
both those which were too favorable and those which were too unfavorable—both
those of the nursery and those of a young man’s reading. He has learned his own
paces, or, at any rate, is in a fair way to learn them; has found his footing
and the true nature of the ‘going’ he must look for in the world; over what
sorts of roads he must expect to make his running, and at what expenditure of
effort; whither his goal lies, and what cheer he may expect by the way. It is a
process of disillusionment, but it disheartens no soundly made man. It brings
him into a light which guides instead of deceiving him; a light which does not
make the way look cold to any man whose eyes are fit for use in the open, but
which shines wholesomely, rather upon the obvious path, like the honest rays of
the frank son, and makes traveling both safe and cheerful.” ~end
quote from the book
The dialog of those paragraphs are clearly from 1901. Let me give some clarity
to what the President is saying. He is clearly speaking to the biblical idea of
Psalm 51:17 and the broken spirit and the broken and contrite heart. We will
see this clearly when I quote from the end of the book later in this sermon.
In what I just read from the book, the President is saying that monumental and
lasting change can come to a person who has come to him or herself. In our
case, we are saying that, “coming to yourself” and being brought to a broken and
contrite heart and spirit are the same things. It is a moment when a person
finds out or has it revealed that he has been a fool regarding some aspect of
his life and/or character or personality.
A person comes to himself when he sees that he has been preoccupied with a false
belief, a false procedure and/or a negative or even sinful way of operating or
Modus Operandi. Often these elements were learned in early childhood and have
stayed with the individual well into adulthood.
When a firstfruit comes to himself, he sees things [and mostly
spiritual things] as they really are. He finds
that he has been the cause of his own character and personality flaws. Actually
he finds that the negative elements he has held for so long are the cause of
damage in his life and that he may have, if fact, caused damage to others. Let
us use the example of the husband who is abusive to his wife [physically,
mentally or emotionally]. We often find that the
systemic cause of his abuse derives from his childhood and/or some learned or
embraced behavior. Maybe he was abused in some way himself or followed in the
footsteps of his father or other relative. He operates in illusion. He
operates in blindness. He operates in darkness. His conscious is asleep to
what he is doing. When God brings him to a broken spirit and a broken and
contrite heart, he, maybe the first time in his entire life, sees both what he
has been doing in error and what he must do to overcome the sin or behavior.
The scales on his eyes have fallen away.
When a person is brought by God to a broken and contrite spirit, a journey
begins; a process of healing begins. He has to unlearn and eliminate the
negative behaviors by bringing in righteousness and holiness. “Bring in the
good and the negative and sinful behaviors depart…eliminated and destroyed.”
This process of change can be swift and it can take some time. This will
depend on the negative element involved and the will of God as to how He will
guide one into that righteousness and holiness.
I love that last part I quoted from the book, “It [the healing process]
brings him into a light which guides instead of deceiving him. He is made
free. He is led to real joy, love and happiness.
Let us return now to the John Gill commentary for the other phrase in Psalm
51:17.
A broken and a contrite heart - O God, thou
wilt not despise; but regard, and receive with pleasure; see Psalm 102:17; the
Lord binds up and heals such broken hearts and spirits, Psalm 147:3; he is nigh
to such persons, looks upon them, has respect unto them, and comes and dwells
among them, Psalm 34:18. ~John Gill
Note: Ah, we see the truth of the
matter. It is not by our strength and/or devices that we change or are healed
but by Almighty God working in and through us by Jesus Christ with the power of
the Holy Spirit. Notice the quoted verses from the John Gill commentary I just
read.
Quoted verses:
Psalm 102:17
He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
Note: When God brings a person to
himself, he sees clearly the errors of his ways and his prayers are righteous,
effective and focused.
Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of
a contrite spirit.
Note: It is God who changes the person
and performs the healing. It is God who brings the joy, love and ultimate
happiness, not only to him but to anyone the individual has harmed or damaged.
We will explore this more abundantly in the next sermon, “Cargo –Part 2.”
Now to another commentary on Psalm 51:17.
The sacrifices of God - The sacrifices which
God desires and approves; the sacrifices without which no other offering would
be acceptable. David felt that that which he here specified was what was
demanded in his case. He had grievously sinned; and the blood of animals offered
in sacrifice could not put away his sin, nor could anything remove it unless the
heart were itself contrite. The same thing is true now. Though a most perfect
sacrifice, every way acceptable to God, has been made for human guilt by the
Redeemer, yet it is as true as it was under the old dispensation in regard to
the sacrifices there required, that even that will not avail for us unless we
are truly [repentant]; unless we come
before God with a contrite and humble heart.
Note: That is, God does not want the
blood of animals now. He wants the firstfruit to come to himself and begin this
journey of knowledge, understanding, wisdom and healing. This is made
possible, of course, by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins and
flaws. His sacrifice makes possible our sacrifice of a broken and contrite
spirit and heart. By His [Jesus’]
sacrifice, we can enter into God’s light…His guidance and healing..
Are a broken spirit - A mind broken or crushed
under the weight of conscious guilt. The idea is that of a burden laid on the
Soul until it is crushed and subdued.
Note: [and I speak from
personal experience here] Being brought to a
broken spirit is like being mentally, emotionally and spiritually crushed and
broken. It is a most profound moment and there can be many tears. Often it is
not only the realization of foolish errors and behaviors but the real knowledge
of what you may have lost because of damage you may have inflicted on yourself
and possibly others.
A broken and a contrite heart - The word
rendered contrite means to be broken or crushed, as when the bones are broken,
Psalm 51:8; and then it is applied to the mind or heart as that which is crushed
or broken by the weight of guilt [being guilty].
The word does not differ materially from the term “broken.” The two together
constitute intensity of expression.
Note: The commentary states it well.
Coming to a broken and a contrite heart is intense. Liken it to being whacked
between the eyes with a two-by-four, as they say. It is often very emotional
but ultimately it is a very positive and even joyous event. You are casting off
a burden or heavy weight. Your resultant journey will be one of happiness, love
and joy…and peace [all fruits of the Spirit and gifts of God].
When you begin that journey of eliminating negative elements of your nature [by
bringing in the good], you just may find yourself
smiling in abundance because you are now seeing yourself, the world and
righteous behaviors in a more perfect light. Notice the quoted verse from the
commentary:
Quoted verse:
Psalm 51:8
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may
rejoice.
Now still in the commentary for Psalm 51:17, our key verse today:
Thou wilt not despise - Thou wilt not treat
with contempt or disregard. That is, God would look upon them with favor, and to
such a heart he would grant his blessing. See the notes at Isaiah 57:15; notes
at Isaiah 66:2. ~ Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith
the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a
contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Note: “God revives the spirit of the
humble and contrite.” Do you see what God is saying in Isaiah 57? When you
are brought down to a broken and contrite spirit and heart, the battle before
you [the process of change] is not
yours but God’s. God is going to bring in the good that forces out the bad and
this will be abundantly lasting change as long as you stay immersed in the Word
of God and, “tremble at His Word.”
Back in the year 2000, Garner Ted Armstrong gave a sermon, “The Battle is Not
Yours” in which he speaks to the concept of God fighting our battles for us. If
one has been brought to a broken heart and broken and contrite spirit, he needs
God fighting this battle. As you can see by the above verses, He does.
In Mr. Armstrong’s sermon, he reads a prayer from 2 Chronicles 20 and says that
we should remember this prayer. Let us read it. First some background to why
the prayer was given.
2 Chronicles 20:1-3
1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children
of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to
battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great
multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they
be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a
fast throughout all Judah.
Note: Judah was clearly brought to a broken and contrite spirit moment and they
realized the almost impossible battle [journey]
ahead. They knew the battle was not theirs to win.
Now to verse 6 and the beginning of the prayer:
2 Chronicles 20:6-12
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest
not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not
power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before
thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name,
saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or
famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in
this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou
wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but
they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession,
which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against
this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our
eyes are upon thee. [Emphasis mine].
When God allows you to come to a broken heart and broken and contrite spirit,
you see the monumental before you and the journey of healing that you must
take. God will fight this battle for you and lead you through that journey.
Let us finish with the last words we read in the president’s book, “When a Man
Comes To Himself.”
“Christianity gave us, in the fullness of time, the perfect image of right
living, the secret of social and of individual well-being; for the two are not
separable, and the man who receives and verifies that secret in his own living
has discovered not only the best and only way to serve the world, but also the
one happy way to satisfy himself. Then, indeed, has he come to himself.”
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of
a contrite spirit.” [Psalm 34:18]