For many years, we have been led to believe that Psalm 51 is one of those songs that you can you to beg God in moments when you have fallen away into [I’m not even sure I fully understand what that means], the song you sing with tears so that between the tears and the begging one of it will move God, I’m sure you’ve done it before, I have too. Truth is, Psalm 51 is deeper than that.
Just a quick background, we know that David wrote this psalm after prophet Nathan confronted him for sleeping with the wife of Uriah and killing him. In that instant, David became remorseful and he repented. What is more interesting though is David’s attitude. In Psalm 51:11-12 he said “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit”
It’s interesting that David didn’t beg God to retain his generational covenant of making him the royal family. He wasn’t even worried about God delivering him into the hands of the enemy. He was more worried about losing God’s presence, everything else matters less.
In contrast, Saul got carried away by the kingdom that cared less about the king. For instance, when Samuel confronted Saul about his disobedience in 1 Samuel 15:30 he said, “I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God”. Isn’t that funny? He seemed remorseful but clearly unwilling to repent.
Other instances include his disapproval of Jonathan’s friendship with David on grounds that David may take over the kingdom from him. In the end, God didn’t take the kingdom from him but his spirit left him and when it did, the kingdom was useless in his hand.
David saw first hand in the life of Saul what becomes the end of a man without the spirit of God. So, when he was confronted with his sin, his priority wasn’t the kingdom, it was retaining his king’s presence. For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.
So let’s ask ourselves too, which is your priority? Is it the Kingdom or the King?
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