David was the greatest King of Israel. He was not without shortfalls. He fell for a woman who was already married to one of his warriors. He committed adultery with her resulting in a child. David sent a message to the warfront and killed her husband who was so loyal to him that he even refused to go home on a special holiday approved by the king to hide his misdemeanour.

God confronted David with the grievous sins that he committed. Instead of refuting the charges, David accepted his crime, repented for them and accepted the punishment that God would give him.

A man is not immune to temptation, being the human he is, however much spiritual he is. God knows the frailty of man. But it is how he behaves or reacts after falling into temptation is what matters to God. God always receives anyone who returns to Him with a repentant heart. He will forgive any one who comes to him confessing his sin. A broken and a contrite heart, God will not despise.

How could a holy God testify of David as “a man after mine own heart” despite his abominable and bloody act of adultery and murder? God knows that man is a sinner right from his fall. Man’s sin would enslave him until it is given a deathblow by His Son at Calvary. God is also gracious. He wants the sinner to approach him with a repentant heart, seeking for forgiveness so that he would accept the sinner with open arms. David’s disgraceful episode is a demonstration of the love of God towards a repentant heart. Millions of sinners in the believing line have returned to the Lord based on the truth expressed in Psalm 51. God forgives!