If I was asked who one of my favourite Bible characters is the first name to pop into my head would be David.  The story of David’s life is full of twists and turns.  For anyone to say that the Bible is boring has never read the story of David.
 
When we think of David, different positive words come to mind: a Shepherd, poet, giant killer, King, ancestor of Jesus, the man after Gods own heart.  We would name him as one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament; he was strong, brave, handsome, and assertive.  At one point he was on top of the world; a King, defeating enemies, wealthy, full of prestige and to top it off the people loved him.  I’m sure you can think of someone you look up to: a parent, religious figure, celebrity; these individuals seem to do extraordinary things.  However, the problem is that they will at some point fall off the pedestal we put them on; why does this happen? Because, like David, they’re human.
 
David started with humble beginnings as a Shepherd boy and when given the opportunity stepped out in faith and was given strength by God to defeat Goliath, chosen as God’s anointed one to become King and after years of struggle and hiding, became King of Israel and all the brilliant words used earlier came to pass however, David found himself in a downward spiral.
 
He became a liar, adulterer and murderer and I think we all can agree that although they’re correct, it’s not words, we would want anyone to use if asked to describe us.  At the height of David’s success, he blew it, he tried to cover up one wrong, one sin with another, from lust to adultery to murder - the perfect yet not ideal example of the snowball effect to say the least. The Bible makes no effort to hide David’s failures; yet he’s remembered and respected as a godly man and a biblical giant.
 
“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.  I said to myself I will confess my rebellion to the Lord, and you forgave me.  All my guilt is gone.”  Psalm 32:5
 
David messed up many times there is no doubt about that however, he was quick to confess his wrongdoings, his confessions weren’t false, they weren’t said just to get it over with. David was suffocating in his guilt, his confessions were sincere and from the heart, he didn’t hold back, and his repentance was real.  David didn’t take God’s forgiveness lightly and in return, God didn’t hold back from David either in his forgiveness.  Although David confessed and asked for forgiveness and experienced that joy and relief, he did still have to receive the consequences of his behaviour because God is just.  Yes, He gave David a second chance, but He had to discipline His child for doing wrong.  Just like our parents punish us for doing something wrong because that’s how you learn from your mistakes and David knew this.
 
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.  You will not reject a broken and repentant heart O God.”  Psalm 51:17
 
As a consequence, for what David had done, his child with Bathsheba died but after they had mourned David was allowed to start anew with her and took her as his wife and they had a son- Solomon. The prophet Nathan who confronted David the first time returned and gave Solomon another name, Jedidiah which means beloved of the Lord; this reassured David that God loved him and his child and would not take this child from them.
 
David should have been dethroned and killed for all that he had done, and as a guilty party in the adultery not allowed to marry Bathsheba but, because God is a God of not only second but third and fourth chances, He allowed him a second chance; another opportunity to be King, to be a husband and a father.
 
David didn’t make the same mistake twice, he learnt from the mistakes he had made and turned his back on them, never to do them again.  Forgiveness is something special but to receive it, you need to have a heart like David and mean your repentance, the most important thing to him was his desire to make things right with God and THAT is a characteristic of his that’s worth imitating, which is why he is referred to as twice as the man after God’s own heart.  David rejoiced in his forgiveness and didn’t let guilt from his past mistakes hold him back from what God had in store for him.
 
Is that how you are?  Are you like David and willingly confess your sins and rejoice in forgiveness and walk away from the mistakes you have made?
 
Do you make the same mistakes over and over because you haven’t been fully honest in your repentance?
 
Or have you not forgiven yourself yet and are always looking back at your mistakes and letting them hold you back from what God has in store for you?
 
David seemed to have it all, but his life was messy at times because of his own doing and the consequences of his actions affected his family and the nation for generations.  If David can get a second chance, so can you!  Do not let your past mistakes hold you back from the rest of your story - the plan God has for your life.
 
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?  You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy”  Micah 7:18
 
God is our Father, and He wants the best for us, all He asks is for us to be fully honest with Him, He delights in our coming to Him, and is willing to give a second chance because His son Jesus carried our sins when he died on the cross for us.