The Prayer of David, Part 1

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba”

Psalm 51, Scriptural Heading

If I had a nickel for every preacher I have heard present Psalm 51: “the Psalm David wrote after his sin with Bathsheba.”

And that is all that is highlighted in what the Scriptural heading of the Psalms says. In my 30+ years of hearing at least 4 sermons every week, it feels shallow. I have a hard time believing that in 6,500 listenings, few have reached any deeper into this dark penitential soliloquy.

I have heard plenty of victory chants. Hezekiah sang when he was healed and given 15 more years. Miriam sang when Israel overcame at the Red Sea crossing. Moses sang at the end of his life having successfully delivered the nation to the borders of the promised land.

I have rejoiced at the testimonial of someone who has overcome a hard time in their life. I have been in those prayer meetings where no one dared move a muscle while a suffering saint wept and praised God. I’ve felt the strength radiate from many a dedicated, proved believer when they say from their new standing on higher ground, “I know what you’re going through.”

These are the reflections looking back on trials. Many books are written after a season of trials has passed. In the fresh light of relief, a new day of perspective dawns and allows for a clear, almost third-person view of the steps they took and the decisions they made.

That is not Psalm 51.

David is in the middle of watching someone else suffer and die for his sin. He did not confess; he was caught. So long delayed was the sentence that he cannot see himself in a parable meant to reprove him. So sudden was the judgment that as soon as Nathan left, David spent the night face down in the dirt praying. The full heading tells a terrible truth:

“…when Nathan the prophet came unto him,”

According to the heading, the child had not yet died. In 2 Samuel 12, David wept with fasting and praying incessantly for that baby boy. His first reaction: “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan had delivered God’s message exactly: “And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14) David knew what “surely” meant. It was just a matter of time. Maybe it would mean 930 years, as Adam, but it would happen. Mercifully, the suffering is prolonged only seven days.

Surprised, condemned, sentenced, and teetering on the razor’s edge of mercy and justice, David writes. Not AFTER the tragedy… DURING the tragedy.

“And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died.”

2 Samuel 12:15-18a

What kind of man writes from the bottom?

I understand the melancholic who muddles through depression, and that is not to be diminished. But that is largely a mental state. David was not just in a low mood, he was utterly debased in his whole kingdom, even across the whole world at the time. Mentally, emotionally, vocationally, and physically he was a wretch. He deserved what he was getting, yet, he contended with the Lord flat on his face.

David documents his prayer from there. Nobody does that.

An historical anomaly this is for sure. David’s tongue was truly “the pen of a ready scribe.” It is probably true that he wrote nothing at all in the 9 months of Bathsheba’s pregnancy. This Psalm breaks the fast of David’s soul as his body pained with withdrawal.

But it’s not AFTER, it’s DURING

This proves that something spiritual can come from the low places. It took real discipline and debasement to pen these thoughts. How could these thoughts be good? How could these heart murmurs become worthy of a place in the Holy Scripture? Here are reasons I believe why:

1. Repentance ought to be recorded

The act of documenting a major failure is the best insulation against repeating it. The painfulness of sin and its wages fades with time. The Lord does this as a mercy to go on; the devil uses it to convince us to try it again. When God gives you the sense to see what you’ve done wrong, and it pierces your heart and grieves your soul, write it down. Make yourself a memo.

If you are serious enough to forsake it, seal that commitment in a written statement.

2. Prayers ought to be repeated

Many will walk the worn trails of life’s temptations and trials. Things that you have lived through and look back on will smack someone else right in the face. The memories of battles past will surprise another person someday. They may be too terrified, too shocked, too grieved to think to pray.

I’ve been in situations where no one I knew shared the feelings I had. Nobody cared for the tears I shed, nor could I explain them. But an old song would play through my mind– not my words, mind you– and I could tell someone had sat where I sat. They saw what I saw. And because of grace given to them, they wrote it down for me to sing, alone, yet attended by the Spirit of God to bear my heavy heart.

They thought to pray, and they thought also to write. Not all prayer or song is meant for public consumption; but what a relief for a speechless soul to find words prepared for him to voice his complaint to the Lord.

A prayer is a path; once it is blazed, others will walk the trail.

3. Sorry ought to be said to God

Not many believers feel like they are ‘good’ at praying. Even less are those who feel they are ‘good’ at speaking. Even less, to find one who is ‘good’ at praying and writing, who also thinks to record how it feels to be guilty before God. Thank God that David did.

Every person will face days that they feel they will never walk away from. Follow David.

When you fall into situations that leave you speechless, pray David’s prayers. Sing David’s songs. Let his acceptable words be your voice when you can’t speak for yourself.

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