2. The Folly of Impenitence (vv. 3-4). Now David tells his own story and honestly admits what a fool he had been to hide his sins for almost a year. Charles Spurgeon said, “God does not permit His children to sin successfully.” John Donne wrote, “Sin is a serpent, and he that covers sin does but keep it warm, that it may sting the more fiercely, and disperse the venom and malignity thereof the more effectually.” The Lord chastened David for almost a year and made him miserable until he stopped lying, humbled himself before God, and confessed his sins. Chastening isn’t a judge punishing a criminal; it’s a loving Father dealing with His disobedient children to bring them willingly to the place of surrender. According to Hebrews 12:1-13, God’s chastening is proof that He loves us and that we are genuinely His children.

What happened to David during those difficult months? For one thing, he became a physical wreck. He was probably about fifty when he disobeyed the Lord, but he began to feel and look like a sick old man. Usually robust and ready for action, David now had constant pain in his body (see 51:8) and was groaning (“roaring”) because of it. The hand of God was heavy upon him, and instead of feeling fresh and full of vigor, he was dried up like a plant during a drought (see 38:2; 39:10). Did he have a fever that dehydrated him? Whatever it was, he was miserable, for he had a defiled conscience, a worried mind (“When will I be found out?”), and a sick body. But it was worth the pain, for the experience brought him back to the Lord.

3. The Way of Deliverance (vv. 5-7). The Lord sent the prophet Nathan to David to confront him with his sins and bring him God’s word of forgiveness (2 Sam. 12). David’s confession “I have sinned against the Lord” was answered with, “The Lord also has put away your sin” (2 Sam. 12:13 nkjv). The king didn’t have to do penance or go on probation; all he had to do was sincerely confess his sins, and the Lord forgave him (1 John 1:9). The burden of transgression had been carried away, the debt was canceled, the twisted was made straight, and the Lord didn’t put David’s sins on the record. Instead of imputing our sins, the Lord puts the righteousness of Christ on our account, and we are accepted in Him (see Rom. 4:3ff.; 5:13; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; Gal. 3:6). David offered no excuses; he admitted that he had sinned and was guilty before God. Guilt is to the conscience what pain is to the body: It tells us that something is wrong and must be made right, or things will get worse. The promise is for everybody (“godly” = chosen ones, God’s people; 4:3), and we must confess our sins immediately when we find them out and while God may be found (69:14; Isa. 55:9; Prov. 1:24-33). The waters of chastening will only get deeper and the storm increase, so don’t tempt the Lord!

But God’s forgiveness isn’t a negative thing; the Lord adds positive blessings to help us on the road to recovery. David exchanged hiding his sins for a hiding place in the Lord. God removed his troubles and put a wall of protection around him. Did David deserve these blessings? Of course not–nor do we! But this is the grace of God as found in Jesus Christ our Lord. “God’s kiss of forgiveness sucks the poison from the wound,” wrote Alexander Maclaren, and that says it all. This doesn’t mean that David didn’t suffer because of the consequences of his sins. God in His grace forgives us, but God in His government says, “You shall reap what you have sown.” Bathsheba conceived and gave birth to a son, but the baby died. David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13) and was slain by David’s son Absalom. Then Absalom tried to seize the throne and was slain by Joab (2 Sam. 14–18). While David was dying, his son Adonijah tried to take the scepter from Solomon (1 Kings 1), and Adonijah was slain. However, David faced these calamities with God’s help and lived to assemble what was needed for the temple so that Solomon (Bathsheba’s second son) could build it.

After David was forgiven and restored, he went to the sanctuary to worship the Lord (2 Sam. 12:15-23), and there with the other worshippers, he was surrounded by “songs [shouts] of deliverance,” that is, praise to God for His mercies. That’s exactly what David needed to hear!