I guess there are lots of big questions that people ask about God, and if everyone who read this page was to post a question or two I'm sure we'd have an interesting and varied selection. But among those questions, 'Is there a god?', 'What's this god like?' and 'How do I make sure I'm on the right side of this god?' are questions that have challenged and shaped people and societies throughout history.
Left to our own devices our experience often shapes the way we think about god. This is true for those who have been brought up with an understanding of the God that we read about in the Bible. Because of the language of the Bible and the culture of the church our understanding of God and our relationship with God is often shaped by our relationship to key male characters - our father, a head master etc. These earthly relationships can then have a very positive or negative impact on the way we see God.
Am I acceptable to God? What about when I mess up? How far can I go before God will give up on me? Have I already gone too far? Surely God can't love me after all I have done?
Over the last two Sundays we have been looking at the story of King David and how he seriously messed up. He committed adultery with a woman called Bathsheba, abusing his position and authority as king - and then in an attempt to keep things quiet he had her husband Uriah murdered. The story is told in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. But God saw it all and did not like what he saw - and he sent the prophet Nathan to challenge David.
David's immediate response was to acknowledge his wrong doing and to confess his sin. Unlike king Saul before him he did not try to justify his actions or make excuses or deny it was him. And it was in the light of this experience that David wrote Psalm 51.
David messed up big time, but he also experienced the forgiveness of God. We can know that too.
David relied on God's love, mercy, and compassion - not on his own ability, worthiness or goodness. The Bible is full of statements about the character of God and the promises of God. Have a look at Lamentations 3:22-23, Ephesians 2:4-9 and 1 John 1:9 as a starter.
David confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness. Jesus' death on the cross means that we can know our sin forgiven and a new start.
David's response to the love and mercy of God was a desire to live God's way - create in me a pure heart. Our motivation to do things God's way is not a sense of duty, it is not fear of punishment, it is love for all that God has done for us.
