“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
David’s sin broke God’s heart. You can hear it in God’s words to David through Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. He said, in essence, “Why did you do this? I gave you so much. I would have given you more. Why did you do this to me?” God was betrayed.
David understood that he couldn’t buy his way out of his sin to be reconnected with God at a heart level. Yes, he could mechanically work the steps required by the Law, and David followed the Law. But he knew what God wanted most was for him to be as broken over his sin as God was.
God responds to our brokenness. We can be caught in sin without really feeling bad about it. We can be sorry for the consequences while our hearts remain as hard as rocks. God wants to crush those rocks to make us as devastated by our sin as He is. He will not turn away from our genuine sorrow and repentance.
Think: Do you sometimes feel like your heart is hard about your sin even while you’re confessing it to God? Is it hard for you to believe God’s heart is broken over your sinful choices? If so, why do you think that is?
Pray: Ask God to make you sad about your sin. Ask Him to help you to feel sick about it. Ask Him to help your heart to break over the sinful choices you make.
Do: Really. Seriously. Pray that.