Blessed Is The One

In 2 Samuel 11–12, the Bible walks us through an exceedingly dark place. It tells the story of David’s sin. He commits adultery with another man’s wife—Bathsheba—and has her husband killed in battle. Then, David is confronted about his sin by the prophet Nathan. Once David realizes the heinous nature of his behavior and that this sin has displeased the Lord, he recognizes, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13a). Yet, David’s sin still bore dark consequences, and the child that he and Bathsheba conceived dies. 

However, in the midst of this horrible story and David’s sinful failure, Nathan makes an astounding promise to King David: “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13a). Yes, David’s sin was great. It resulted in the deaths of the warrior Uriah—Bathsheba’s husband—and David’s own child. Some people believe that David’s act with Bathsheba was not consensual, and she was violated; there is no doubt that David’s sin gravely affected her as well. Despite this reality, however, God put away David’s sin. David did not die as a result of what he had done. 

David is the same man who wrote in Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Reading this when juxtaposed with the story of David’s sin in 2 Samuel, we realize that David truly knew what a blessing it is to have your transgression forgiven and your sin covered. He wrote in another Psalm, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (51:3). David was aware that what he had done was wrong, and even that this sin was against God (51:4). 

One extremely important detail, though, is that David was able to celebrate his forgiveness because he repented. Psalm 51 gives a detailed account of David’s recognition of his sin and pleas to be made new despite it. He asked God, “purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (v. 7). He requested that the Lord create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him (v. 10). He declared, “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness” (v. 14). This forgiveness that David asked God for would result in praise to Him (v. 15). In fact, we even see David worship God after his son died (2 Samuel 12:20). 

It is only when we understand the depths of our sin that we can truly appreciate being forgiven of it. When we recognize that we were dead in sin, that our deplorable deeds are offensive to a holy God, and that our righteousness is only as good as a filthy rag, we will marvel at the grace and mercy our Lord freely showers over His children. 

So, if you have sinned like David, do not despair. Be broken over your sin (Psalm 51:17) and repent of it, but do not beat yourself up. If your transgression is forgiven and your sin is forgiven, you are truly blessed. You have received a healing greater than the curing of any physical ailment; you have been spiritually made new, your sin put away forever by the cross of Christ. 

Along with David, let us celebrate this forgiveness of sin. Let us walk in the joy and blessedness God has for us as His forgiven children. Let us boldly declare as we celebrate the good news of the gospel, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalm 32:1–2).