The pressure to present an image of ourselves as strong and spiritually “together” hovers over most of us. We feel guilty for not measuring up, for not making the grade. We forget that not one of us is perfect and that we are all sinners. We forget that David, one of God’s most beloved friends, committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. How many of us would have erased that from the history books forever lest the name of God be disgraced?
David did not. Instead, he used his absolute power as king to ensure the details of his colossal failure were published in the history books for all future generations! In fact, David wrote a song about his failure to be sung in Israel’s worship services and to be published in their worship manual, the psalms. Can you imagine doing that with our sins!
David knew something about the power of brokenness and failure, that “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). As a “man after God’s own heart,” David is an important leader from whom we must learn.
In this podcast I explore his confession in Psalm 51 as a model for us, concluding with a few thoughts about our need to climb a ladder of humility (as Benedict of Nursia named it in his famous Rule in the 6th century) if we are to lead well.
Blessings,
Pete
Immature, shallow people don’t change the world for Jesus. Only mature disciples do.
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