‘Sorry’ may be a simple word, but it has huge implications. Think of all the conflicts that might have been avoided, the families who would still be speaking to each other and the relationships that would have survived if only the parties involved had tried to talk things through, swallow their hurt pride and utter that one little word.
David, the shepherd boy chosen by God to be King of Israel, wrote Psalm 51 and many such songs in the Old Testament. Under God’s guidance, he enjoyed success and fame as a ruler and military leader - but then he lusted after and took another man’s wife. Worse, he deliberately sent her husband into battle knowing that he was almost certain to be killed (see 2 Samuel 11).
As time passed, David became aware that he had taken a backward step in his relationship with God. In a spirit of repentance, David makes this sincere and honest prayer, asking God to create a pure heart within him and restore the joy he used to find in worship: ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions… Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight’ (Psalm 51:1, 4 New International Version).
Like David, there are times when we need to say sorry to God - particularly when we have lost our way, or done something we know to be wrong or hurtful to others.
It’s possible to say sorry without meaning it. But when we say it straight from the heart - and then follow it up by a change of lifestyle - God hears our prayer and helps us to start again.
Do we need to take a leaf out of David’s book? Is there someone we need to say sorry to?
UK & Ireland War Cry May 2013
Photo credit: War Cry pictures
