We read in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We read in Isaiah 61:3, “To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning,...”.

We read in James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full grown, brings forth death.” David was successful in all he did, because he kept his eyes on God. David didn’t wake up one day and decide he wanted to sin egregiously; he followed the pattern in James 1:14-15. He should have been at war with his men, but enjoying his recent successes we read in 2 Samuel 11:1, “.. But David remained in Jerusalem.”

Rather than at war we next find him on the roof, and he looked in 11:2, “...And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” It could have ended here, but David next sought out further in 11:3, “So David sent and inquired about the woman...”. Next David decided to take what was not his, in 11:4, “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.” David probably felt no one knew, no harm was done. But she conceived. So, the sin now escalates as David tries to cover his sin up. This convoluted attempt leads to his murder of Uriah (Bathsheeba’s husband), in 11:15, “And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”

That is how David, “a man after God’s own heart” fell into adultery and murder. But after understanding the anatomy of sin we witness the anatomy of confession. David’s sin is exposed through the words of Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 12. Once exposed, we read in12:13-14, “So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” We read more of David’s confession in Psalm 51. We read in 51:1-4, “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness;...Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight...”. He continues in 51:16-17, “For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-...”. Can forgiveness really be that easy? The answer is, yes!

No one when asked in kindergarten what they want to be when they grow up would answer: a murderer, a thief, etc. Yet our prisons are overflowing with those who have made these choices. More than that our world is filled with people living shattered lives from the choices they have made and the earthly consequences of these choices. Many mistakenly believe that their mistakes have rendered them broken and unusable. But that is false. God’s forgiveness and mercy is simply one prayer away as you come clean before God and confess your sins and turn from evil ways as you turn towards God and seek His righteousness. Stop blaming others or trying to figure out why you did what you did. Just seek God and experience “...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,...” (Philippians 4:7). Though there may be earthly consequences for our poor choices, God is a God of second chances and third chances, etc, and He is not done with you yet. You can still be used mightily by God. What the world sees as worthless, God sees as beautiful.