Gleanings From The Word

Category: Bible Characters

  • Sinner and Saint – The Dual Nature of King David

    Sinner and Saint – The Dual Nature of King David

    Create in me a clean heart - a man washing his hands in a stream. Sinner and saint - we are both

    King David is often referred to as being a man after God’s own heart. Even the Bible says so in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22. If you know anything about David, that’s a remarkable statement. He was an incredible sinner and a stalwart saint. 

    David was a weak father, a murderer, an adulterer and more. I don’t imagine that there’s a sin he didn’t commit. He could be violent and ruthless, even one of his own sons turned and tried to kill him at one point. 

    If you had to make a list of Bible characters who acted the least like God, you would likely add David. David was a champion for God, but he was also a world-class sinner. 

    Yet at times, David, as both a boy and later a man, stood strongly for God against impossible odds. It was clear he loved the LORD and had faith.

    David the sinner understood that he was a sinner and made no excuses for it. He understood His sin was always against God. 

    David, the saint, knew his only hope was in God’s grace and mercy. 

    In Psalm 51, his cries to the Lord show his heart. He knew that there was no redemption apart from God. 

    Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the abundance of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and pure when You judge. Psalm 51:1-4 

    Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:10-11 

    Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 

    If we are honest with ourselves, we are no less sinners than David. There may be things he did that we haven’t actually done, but we’ve harbored them in our hearts. That’s sin as well. 

    We need to stop making excuses. We would do well to throw ourselves on the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins that was bought by the blood and death of Jesus. 

    It would do us good to meditate on Psalm 51 and take it to heart. It would make an excellent model for a prayer of repentance.

    He loved us when we were still His enemies. He loves us now despite our rebellion. Although, because of the imputed righteousness of Christ, we are now reconciled.

    David had never heard the name of Jesus, but He knew God alone, by His mercy alone, could save Him. David understood his need for grace

    Praise God that He remains faithful and merciful despite our unfaithfulness.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    You might also enjoy

    “The Way of Wisdom”

    “The Best News You Will ever hear“

    Teach me your ways

    SUMMARY

    David was both a great sinner and a faithful servant of God, yet Scripture calls him a man after God’s own heart because he genuinely repented and depended completely on God’s mercy and grace. Psalm 51 reveals David’s broken and contrite heart, reminding believers that forgiveness and restoration come only through the mercy of God and ultimately through Jesus Christ.

    KEY POINTS

    David’s life shows that even those who deeply fail can find forgiveness through sincere repentance and faith in God.

    Psalm 51 serves as a powerful model of confession, humility, and dependence on God’s cleansing grace.

    Believers should stop excusing sin and instead rest in the mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness provided by Christ.

  • Pentecost Insights: Unveiling Spiritual Connections

    Pentecost Insights: Unveiling Spiritual Connections

    Pentecost and the Exodus - two sides of the same coin

    I’ve been reading some Messianic Jewish material on Pentecost and have learned some astounding similarities between Moses coming down from the mountain and the events of Acts 2. 

    Some of the material I recognized from previous studies, and others were new to me. I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon that did a full comparison. I’m just going to touch on a few key points

     And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

    So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41

    It’s a very familiar passage if you have been in the church for any length of time. The church is born with a supernatural sign and outpouring of miraculous signs. What I didn’t recognize before is that it is directly comparable to an event in the account of the Exodus. You likely know it as the story of the golden calf.

    Let me point out some parallels.

    When Moses is on the mountain, there is lightning, fire and clouds. At Pentecost, we have the tongues of flame.

    When Moses comes down, he finds the people worshipping at an altar of a golden calf. In God’s judgment, 3000 were slain. At Pentecost, by God’s grace, 3,000 were saved that day.

    Moses intercedes with God for the people and their sin. With Christ we have the true mediator for all believers.

    In many ways, with the Law’s declaration, the nation of Israel was formally born. At Pentecost, the church was born.

    The Law was given 50 days after the Passover before the Exodus from Egypt. Pentecost was 50 days after Jesus. Last Supper (in some sense, the last Passover).

    In both cases, a large assembly is gathered and waiting. The people at the foot of Sinai are waiting for Moses to return; the disciples in Jerusalem are waiting as Jesus commanded. In both cases, something dramatic descends from above and transforms the situation entirely.

    Pentecost isn’t just a “birthday of the church” moment — it’s a deliberate new-covenant Sinai, where everything that went wrong in Exodus 32 is reversed. The covenant that was broken before the ink was dry is now written inwardly, and the three thousand who fell under judgment become three thousand who receive life.

    Next time you think about the miracle of Pentecost, take a moment to contemplate the incredible ways God blesses us and how His word is a signpost pointed directly at Him. It’s all part of His redemptive plan for His creation.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

    Profound Change: The Journey to New Creation

    Summary

    Pentecost in Acts 2 mirrors and fulfills the events at Mount Sinai, revealing a deliberate connection between the giving of the Law and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Where Israel’s sin at the golden calf brought judgment and death to three thousand people, Pentecost displays God’s grace as three thousand are brought to life through Christ and the new covenant.

    Key Points

    • At both Sinai and Pentecost, God’s presence is revealed through dramatic signs from heaven, including fire, sound, and a gathered assembly waiting below.
    • When Moses descended from the mountain, Israel fell into idolatry and three thousand died under judgment; at Pentecost, after Christ’s resurrection and ascension, three thousand were saved through repentance and faith.
    • Moses acted as an intercessor for Israel, foreshadowing Christ, the true and perfect mediator of the new covenant.
    • Sinai marked the formal establishment of Israel under the Law, while Pentecost marked the birth of the church through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
    • The Law was given fifty days after the Exodus events, and Pentecost occurred fifty days after Christ’s resurrection, emphasizing God’s intentional covenant pattern and fulfillment.

    You might also like

    Connections