And David Said Unto God, I Have Sinned Greatly
David's sin of pride serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and dependence on God.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes David's acknowledgment of his sin rooted in pride and self-glorification, contrasting it with the humility that God desires from His followers. He warns against the temptation to boast about our achievements and possessions, reminding us that all we have is a gift from God. Meyer calls for a return to a humble heart, echoing the sentiments of John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul, urging believers to recognize their dependence on God's grace rather than their own merits.
Text
And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly
in that I have done this thing. 1 Chron. xxi. 8 (R.V.).
HIS sin lay in the spirit of pride and display. He vaunted in the growing numbers of Israel, and credited them to himself, as the result of his own prowess and prudence. All such boasting is very abhorrent to the all‑holy God, who will not give his glory to another. It was the sin of Nebuchadnezzar, when he said, "Is not this great Babylon which I have built?" It was the sin of Herod Agrippa when the people shouted, saying, "The voice of a god, and not of a man"; and immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, "because he gave not God the glory."
We are all tempted to it when we count up the number of our adherents and converts; when we unroll our securities and vouchers; when we count up our assets; when we display our jewels. All these are gifts entrusted to our care by our Father and Saviour, to be held in trust as a matter for gratitude rather than for pride.
How greatly David had fallen from the level of his own sweet sonnet! ‑‑ "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty." Oh, let us ask our Master Christ to teach us how to be meek and lowly in heart, that we may find rest unto our souls; let us endeavour to be as little children, devoid of self. consciousness; and let us be careful, as we survey the growing treasures and power of our lives, to remember the Apostle's words: "Who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? But if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? "
How well John the Baptist parried the temptation to jealousy, when he said, "A man can receive nothing unless it be given him from heaven."
Sermon Outline
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David's Sin of Pride
- Vaunting in the growing numbers of Israel
- Crediting their growth to himself
- Boasting is abhorrent to God
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The Dangers of Pride
- Examples from Nebuchadnezzar and Herod Agrippa
- God will not give his glory to another
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The Importance of Humility
- Counting our blessings as gifts from God
- Being meek and lowly in heart
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Overcoming Pride
- Asking Christ to teach us humility
- Being careful to remember our dependence on God
Key Quotes
“All such boasting is very abhorrent to the all-holy God, who will not give his glory to another.” — F.B. Meyer
“Who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” — F.B. Meyer
“A man can receive nothing unless it be given him from heaven.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We should be careful to remember our dependence on God and give him the glory that is due to him.
- We should count our blessings as gifts from God rather than as a result of our own prowess or prudence.
- We should strive to be meek and lowly in heart, recognizing our need for God's guidance and strength.