Psalm 51:14

Psalm 51:14

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed

There are probably two events driving this cry from for David for deliverance from “the guilt of bloodshed.” The first is the death or Uriah, the former husband of Bathsheba and one of David’s “mighty fighting men.” Uriah was his friend and trusted ally and yet he had connived to get him drunk so that he would go home and sleep with his wife, in the hope that this would cover the possibility that Bathsheba was pregnant. When Uriah refused because of his loyalty to his comrades in the army, David ordered that he be placed in a position where fighting was fiercest and then be abandoned and left to die! The plan worked and David had Uriah’s blood on his hands. 

A child was born to David and Bathsheba, but because of their sinful actions it too would die. 7 days after the birth their son, who had become seriously ill, passed away. His life was so short that he remained uncircumcised and unnamed and therefore was not counted among the Israelites. David mourned and pleaded with the Lord whilst the child was ill, but he went to the house of the Lord and worshipped and accepted the disciplinary consequences of his sin when the boy died. (See 2 Samuel 12-13) 

Today’s verse summarises these events in a nutshell and shows us that confession and forgiveness provide a healing process through the darkest events in our lives. And once we have confessed and repented, we do not live the rest of our days in remorse and regret. I’m sure David often remembered his sin and its consequences, but he also learned from the process and used his time to serve the God who had been so gracious and merciful to Him. If we have any idea how gracious and merciful the Lord has been to us, then like David, let’s sing aloud of His righteousness. 

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