Haunted by the Truth, Ps. 51:11NLT

For I recognize my rebellion;

    it haunts me day and night.  Ps. 51:3NLT 

A passage of scripture taken from the Psalm David wrote after Nathan rebuked him on his affair with Bathsheba.  Psalm 51 for me is the most transparent Psalm written.  It is raw, rough, dirty and brutally honest.  David is whatever is below rock bottom, that’s where he is when he writes Psalm 51.  And, this is the reason why it’s my favorite Psalm but also why David is my favorite person in the bible.  David’s transparency is unmatched but what is more unmatched is his heart.  As we all know the bible states that he was a man after God’s own heart.  Acts 13:22, After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ Also, found in 1 Sam. 13:14.  

And because he was a man after God’s own heart, he thoroughly understood that when the actions of his heart didn’t match God’s, that it was hurtful disobedience which would separate him from the One he was after.  From the heart of the One he was after.  It would separate him from the presence of the One he was after. Because his heart was after God’s, doing such horrible things:  coveting Bathsheba, lusting after her, then laying with her, then killing her husband and finally lying about it, should haunt you.  Anyone after God’s own heart, would be and should be haunted by their rebellion because that’s essentially what it is.  We are rebelling against what God has asked us to do.  And if we recognize that then anyone with a heart for Christ would not be able to let it rest until they made things right with Him.  Which is what David did in Psalm 51.  He repented.  He “turned” away from his sin and did it no more.  When you have a heart for God you can’t help but be haunted by how you let Him down.  You can’t help but be haunted because you want to do what He asks.  When you really want what He wants you will willingly face your mistake and bring it to Him.  It doesn’t haunt you to hurt you, it does to help you.  It does so you will bring it to Him because He’s already waiting for you to come to Him. Conviction is a good thing.  It brings you into the presence of the Father, which is where you want to and need to be in the first place. 

#prodigalpastor #haunt #rebellion #conviction #God #heart #David #transparency