Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man. O You, my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
Psalm 86:1-2
These are King David’s words as he cried out to the Lord in his distress. One thing that stood out to me as I studied Psalm 86 this week is David’s declaration that “I am a godly man.” Those who know David’s life story might ask, “How can David say that he is a godly man?” He had an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and then arranged to have her husband Uriah killed on the battlefield.
The answer to that question should be an encouragement to every one of us! God Himself called David “a man after His own heart.” 1 Samuel 13:14 tells us: The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart and has appointed him as ruler over His people. He was speaking about David.
We know from many other Scriptures that God knows every heart, every thought, everything about us, every moment of our lives. So, God was not surprised at the sinful choices David made. But He also knew that when David was confronted with his sin, he would repent. 2 Samuel chapter 12 tells that the Lord sent Nathan to David to confront him with his sin and the consequences he would suffer because of it. David’s heartfelt response was, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Psalm 51:1-4 and 17, David expresses his broken heart over his sin and his need for forgiveness:
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when you judge… A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
God’s Word is clear that we all have sinned:
Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous, not even one.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We all deserve God’s judgment! But here is the good news! When we turn to God acknowledging our sin and asking for forgiveness, we have His promise of forgiveness and cleansing through our faith in Jesus who paid the penalty for our sins. I love these verses from Psalm 103:11-12:
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. [Notice the word “removed.” He doesn’t just forgive us; He removes our sin!]
How can God say of us that we are a man or woman after His own heart? I believe He is looking for one who is completely devoted to a personal relationship with Him above all else, one who is willing to do His will, one who is seeking to please Him in all that we do, one who trusts Him no matter what the circumstances we are experiencing.
I love the way David calls the Lord “My God.” He has a very personal relationship with the Lord! Throughout Psalm 86, he acknowledges his trust in the Lord to deliver him from his affliction. As followers of Jesus, we can claim for ourselves David’s declarations about the Lord in this psalm:
The Lord is listening and will answer prayer.
The Lord is good and ready to forgive.
He is abundant in lovingkindness (mercy; unfailing love) to all who call upon Him.
There is no other god like our God. He is great and does wondrous deeds.
He delivers our souls.
He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
He offers grace and strength, help and comfort.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Can you say with David, “I am a godly man (or woman)? Why, or why not?
How are you encouraged by David’s prayers and his knowledge of God in this psalm?
Do you ever have trouble forgiving yourself even after you have repented and asked God to forgive you?
Ask God to give you a deep understanding of His love and forgiveness and help you see yourself as He sees you – as His beloved man or woman after His own heart.
Consider writing your own prayer to God in response to this truth.