In many ways Repentance is the most important doctrine in the Bible, and it may be the most misunderstood teaching. The best case study of Repentance is the experience of David articulated in Psalm 51. David was guilty of Five Cardinal Sins:
- Lust in the heart
- Physical Adultery in the bed
- Deception
- Lying
- And Murder
David plainly confesses sin in 2 Samuel 12:13 in these words, “I have sinned against the Lord.” The question is: Did God overlook all his sin and hear and answer his prayers for forgiveness? We find the answer of that question in Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
Also in Proverbs 1:28, “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.” And in Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.”
David knew his sin displeased the Lord. It also haunted him day and night until he was affected physically, mentally, and spiritually. Yet he kept silent for a solid year and later admitted, “my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4).
During all this time was David silently asking the Lord to forgive him, but covering his sins at the same time from others. Had David not read the word of his son Solomon in Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” It would appear that he was still bringing animal offerings to the Lord, until he saw that the “sacrifices of God are not animals, but a broken spirit and a contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:16). Then in brokenness he approached the Lord as we know from his poignant testimony in Psalm 51. He then went through the following stages beginning with brokenness as he indicated in Psalm 51:16.
- Brokenness leads to Repentance
- Repentance leads to Forgiveness
- Forgiveness leads to Clean Heart
- A Clean Heart leads to Restoration
- Restoration leads to Joy
- Joy leads to Soul Winning
- Soul Winning leads to Rejoicing.