DAVID’S PRAYER AND GOD’S FORGIVENESS

8, 9. How does Psalm 51 reveal David’s inmost thoughts, and what does it teach us about Jehovah?

⁸ The words of a song that King David thereafter composed reveal his heartfelt remorse. Psalm 51 contains David’s touching pleas to Jehovah and clearly shows that he did more than admit his errors. He also repented of his sins. David was primarily concerned about his relationship with God. “Against you, you alone, I have sinned,” he confessed. He pleaded with Jehovah: “Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one. . . . Do restore to me the exultation of salvation by you, and may you support me even with a willing spirit.” (Ps. 51:1-4, 7-12) Are you as earnest and as open with Jehovah when you speak to him about your failings?

⁹ Jehovah did not eliminate the painful consequences of David’s sins. Their effects were to continue with him for the rest of his life. However, in recognition of David’s repentant spirit​—he had “a heart broken and crushed”—​Jehovah forgave him. (Read Psalm 32:5; Ps. 51:17) Almighty God understands the true attitude and motive behind sins. Rather than have the adulterers condemned to death by human judges according to the Mosaic Law, Jehovah mercifully intervened, dealing with David and Bath-sheba himself. (Lev. 20:10) God even made their son Solomon Israel’s next king.​—1 Chron. 22:9, 10.

10. (a) What basis might Jehovah have found for forgiving David? (b) What factors move Jehovah to extend forgiveness?

¹⁰ Perhaps another factor in Jehovah’s forgiveness is the way David himself had shown mercy to Saul. (1 Sam. 24:4-7) As Jesus explained, Jehovah treats us the way we treat others. “Stop judging that you may not be judged,” said Jesus, “for with what judgment you are judging, you will be judged; and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you.” (Matt. 7:1, 2) What a relief it is to know that Jehovah will forgive our sins​—even sins as serious as adultery or murder! He will do so if we have a forgiving spirit, if we confess our sins before him, and if we manifest a changed attitude toward our bad actions. “Seasons of refreshing” come from Jehovah when sinners sincerely repent.​—Read Acts 3:19.

MANASSEH SINS GRAVELY BUT REPENTS

11. In what ways did King Manasseh do what was bad in God’s eyes?

¹¹ Consider another Scriptural account that illustrates the extent of Jehovah’s willingness to forgive. Some 360 years after David began to rule, Manasseh became king of Judah. His 55-year-long reign was infamous for wickedness, and his detestable practices brought condemnation from Jehovah. Among other things, Manasseh set up altars to Baal, worshipped “all the army of the heavens,” made his sons pass through fire, and promoted spiritistic practices. Yes, “he did on a grand scale what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah.”​—2 Chron. 33:1-6.

12. How did Manasseh return to Jehovah?

¹² Eventually, Manasseh was taken from his homeland and thrown into a Babylonian prison. There he may have recalled these words of Moses to Israel: “When you are in sore straits and all these words have found you out at the close of the days, then you will have to return to Jehovah your God and to listen to his voice.” (Deut. 4:30) Manasseh did return to Jehovah. How? He “kept humbling himself greatly” and “kept praying” to God (as depicted on page 21). (2 Chron. 33:12, 13) We have no record of the exact words Manasseh uttered in those prayers, but we can imagine that they may in some ways have paralleled those of King David, as recorded in Psalm 51. In any case, Manasseh underwent a complete change of heart.

13. Why did Jehovah forgive Manasseh?

¹³ What was Jehovah’s response to Manasseh’s prayers? “He let himself be entreated by [Manasseh] and He heard his request for favor.” Like David before him, Manasseh recognized the seriousness of his sins and was truly repentant. That is why God forgave Manasseh and restored him to the kingship in Jerusalem. As a result, “Manasseh came to know that Jehovah is the true God.” (2 Chron. 33:13) How heartening it is to have this further evidence that our merciful God forgives those who are genuinely repentant!

IS JEHOVAH’S FORGIVENESS UNLIMITED?

14. What determines whether Jehovah will grant sinners forgiveness?

¹⁴ Few among God’s people today will ever have to seek forgiveness for sins as serious as those of David and Manasseh. Yet, the fact that Jehovah forgave these two kings helps us to realize that our God is willing to forgive even gross sins if the sinner is truly repentant.

BENEFITING FROM JEHOVAH’S FORGIVENESS

17, 18. How can we receive Jehovah’s forgiveness?

¹⁷ How should we respond to Jehovah’s willingness to forgive? Surely we ought to act as did David and Manasseh. We should recognize our sinfulness, repent of our errors, earnestly beseech Jehovah for forgiveness, and ask him to create in us a pure heart. (Ps. 51:10) If we have sinned seriously, we should also seek the spiritual assistance of the elders. (Jas. 5:14, 15) Regardless of our circumstances, it is comforting to bear in mind that Jehovah is as he described himself to Moses​—“a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin.” Jehovah has not changed.​—Ex. 34:6, 7.

¹⁸ Using a powerful comparison, Jehovah promised repentant Israelites the complete removal of the stain of their sins, making what was “scarlet” as white as “snow.” (Read Isaiah 1:18.) What, then, does Jehovah’s forgiveness mean for us? A complete pardon for our sins and errors, provided that we manifest a grateful and repentant attitude.