David, a Man After God’s HeartSample

Repentance and forgiveness

“David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sins; you shall not die.’” (2 Samuel 12:13)

When the prophet Nathan confronted David with his sin and with God's punishment, David came to repentance. He now frankly admitted that he had sinned - not only against Uriah and his wife but also against the Lord Himself. He did not make up some lame excuse for his evil deeds but confessed his sins. He showed sincere remorse.

And then the Lord took away his sin. This does not mean that David escaped punishment. He would continue to suffer the consequences of his wrongdoing. But his sin was forgiven; it no longer stood between God and him. David would “not die.”

That was only possible because someday Someone else would die in David's place: Jesus Christ. He was willing to take upon Himself the punishment for David's sins, and the punishment for the sins of countless others. He suffered the death sentence to make reconciliation possible between God and man.

Have you already confessed your sin and asked God for forgiveness? He is willing to show mercy and cast all your sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). In this way, your relationship with God can be restored and your death sentence pardoned. Do you long for that?