“Repentance out of mere fear is really sorrow for the consequences of sin, sorrow over the danger of sin — it bends the will away from sin, but the heart still clings. But repentance out of conviction over mercy is really sorrow over sin, sorrow over the grievousness of sin — it melts the heart away from sin. It makes the sin itself disgusting to us, so it loses its attractive power over us. We say, ‘this disgusting thing is an affront to the one who died for me. I’m continuing to stab him with it!’” - Timothy Keller, Church Planter Manual posted at "Of First Importance"
In the words of C.H. Spurgeon, "I will not trifle with the sin that slew my best Friend; I must be holy for his sake."
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H.H. Rowley states, "No plea for forgiveness could be sincere, if there was no renunciation of the sin in the heart; no cry for cleansing could have any meaning, if there was still the purpose to renew the act that brought the stain; no prayer for communion could be genuinely expressed by a sacrifice, if there was no desire to walk in harmony with God's will."
David cries before his God, "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it. . .The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:16, 17).
David's sins were heinous. And his heart's response when confronted with those sins was exemplary. Oh, that we would have an understanding of how our sins appear before the Holy One of Israel. Lord, give each of us a heart like David's, a heart like Yours.
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