Two men said, “I have sinned.”
Both of them were kings.
Both were rebuked by a prophet.
Both used the same three words.
But their hearts were very different.
The first man was King Saul. He disobeyed the Lord. When the prophet Samuel rebuked him, he said, “I have sinned.” Then he said, “Yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Samuel 15:30 NKJV). Saul was more worried about his self-image than about changing his ways.
The second man was King David. He committed murder and adultery. When the prophet Nathan rebuked him, he said, “I have sinned” (2 Samuel 12:13). His confession, recorded in Psalm 51, reveals that David genuinely mourned for his sin. He changed his ways. This is true repentance.
- Saul was sorry he got caught. David was sorry he sinned against the Lord.
- Saul acted like a politician. He wanted to be honored before the elders. David humbled himself like a little child. He fasted and mourned before the elders (2 Samuel 12:17).
- Saul worshiped the Lord and never repented (1 Samuel 15:31). David repented before he worshiped the Lord (2 Samuel 12:20).
- Saul made excuses for his sin (1 Samuel 15:19-21). David was willing to do spiritual “open heart surgery” in order to deal with his sin (Psalm 51:10).
Let’s say “I have sinned” the way David did!
The new article, “Mourning for Sin” (#476), discusses what it looks like to truly repent and sorrow for sin.
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