The God of Second Chances

Psalm 40 is a favorite for me as the author is speaking about how God rescued him, put him back on his feet, and led him onward. Even though there is no verse anywhere is the Bible where God promises a second chance per se, it is His pattern in forgiveness and restoration. David, in Psalm 40, speaks of the plans God has for him. Those plans outnumber David's failures. He never seemed to wade into a situation with the attitude, "I know what I am doing is wrong, but I know God will forgive me." In fact, he prayed to be kept from such presumption. It may be God will not forgive simply because He forgive a repentant heart, not a presumptous heart. Anyone entering wilfully and intentionally into sin thinking that God will forgive them does not understand God. He does forgive true confessed sin, but not presumption. Even though more is written about David than about most anyone else in the Bible, we also read more of his failures. He did mess it up a few times and most likely more than we read about for in Psalm 40 he speaks of his sins as numerous as the hairs on his head. For some reason God seems to delight in rescuing His children from their failures in order to reveal His great redemptive plans in them and to those watching. God not only forgives but He restores. What makes David stand out is that he continually sought the Lord even when he failed. He did not try and clean himself up first before seeking the Lord. It wouldn't have worked that way. The sovereign, loving God is continually at work in the lives of His own who repeatedly fail. In Psalm 37:23-24 we are assured that WHEN we fall, God is still holding our hand and will not let go. David anticipated failing again simply because he knew he was an active sinner. But he made no excuse for his failures and he repeatedly sought the Lord in his failures. This may be one reason why God Himself called David a "man after His own heart."