Because Jesus is often called “Son of David” in the New Testament and so many of the psalms are attributed to David, we may tend to idealize the great king. David united the tribes of Israel and established a nation with its capitol in Jerusalem. Jesus himself appealed to David’s example when his enemies accused his hungry disciples of eating grain on the Sabbath.
Yet, the long narrative we read in the Book of Samuel today and tomorrow at Mass offers a darker picture of the famous king– he was a murderer and an adulterer. David had Urriah the Hittite, a faithful soldier in his army, killed so that he could have Bathsheba, his wife. (2 Samuel 11, 1-17)
Psalm 51 is the response we make at Mass after listening to the king’s sordid deed. Tradition says it’s David’s own response after he realized what he had done. The Book of Psalms calls Psalm 51: “A psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba.”
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
And of my sin cleanse me.”
The psalm, the first of the Seven Penitential Psalms, asks God to take away both the personal and social effects of our sin, for our sins do indeed have emotional, physical and social consequences. Only God can “wash away” our guilt and cleanse our heart. Only God can “rebuild” the walls that our sins have torn down and the lives they have harmed. Only God can restore joy to our spirits and help us “teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you.” Only God can bring us back to his friendship.
In the scriptures, David is a complex figure– a saint and a sinner. He’s also a reflection of us all. That’s why our response in the psalm at Mass today takes the form that it does –
“Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
The Victor's Place 
we are bound to be tempted often, but God teaches us repentance at all times.
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Good post! Muhabuzi Pastori’s comment on being tempted made me think of one of my homework questions this week for Pillar 4 on Prayer in the Catechism. In the section “Jesus teaches us how to pray,” the last phrase in 2612 is: “only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into temptation.”
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Amen. And through his great mercy and your calling you can bring us Peace and Joy through the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation. Where would we be without the gift of prayer and guidance leading us to prayer so as to to reunite us with Our Father and one another. We see David as a man following a temptation, then we see how through God’s mercy and love he is gathered in the ever merciful love of Our God who loves us so unconditionally it can blow us away with such Joy. What a great challenge to us all to walk this path always strengthed by those who walk beside us and keep us in their prayer. Always gratitude to gather us in…………
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Change suggested for “Lead us not into temptation.” Possible alternative is the phrase “do not let us fall into temptation,” which is currently used by the French church. In his interview, Pope Francis suggested that phrase could be adopted more widely.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/12/08/pope-francis-suggests-translation-change-our-father
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Lamentations 3:22-23 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
22 The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent;
23 They are renewed each morning— great is your faithfulness!
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