Of all of the people listed in the genealogy of Jesus, perhaps the most expected person to be a part of His genealogy was King David. After all, it had been prophesied that the coming Messiah would come from the lineage of David. Although David was a good king and known for being a “man after God’s own heart,” he also struggled greatly with sin. Despite his sin that certainly broke God’s heart, God the Father saw fit that David be included in the lineage of Jesus, the Savior of the world.
2 Samuel 11 records a time in David's life when he greatly sinned against God and others. In this chapter, David saw a woman named Bathsheba and lusted after her. Bathsheba was married to a man named Uriah, who was off at battle fighting for Israel. Despite these things, David sent for Bathsheba to come to the palace, and ultimately, Bathsheba became pregnant. When David found out, he tried to cover up his sin. Ultimately, he ordered Uriah to be stationed "on the front lines where the battle [was] the fiercest" so that he would be killed (verse 15). David was now an adulterer and murderer. This is not someone you would expect to be in the lineage of Jesus.
God did not let David get away with his sin. One day, the prophet Nathan met with David and called him out for his sin. In response, David wrote Psalm 51. In this Psalm, David wrote, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey you" (verse 12). He continued several verses down, saying, "Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness” (verse 14). God heard David’s prayer and offered him forgiveness. He continued to work in David’s life and ultimately included David as part of the lineage of Jesus.
David's story and inclusion in Jesus's line remind us that God sees beyond our past sins and mistakes. His forgiveness offers us hope for the future, regardless of our past. We are never too far gone or have made too many mistakes to be used by God!
Have you been counting yourself out because you feel that you are too far gone? Find hope in David's story today. Confess any sin in your life to God. Commit to walking away from that sin and ask God to help you as you seek to do this. Thank Him for the hope and forgiveness that is found in Him.
1Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.[a]
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,[b]
teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
