How could David sin so much and still be considered a man of God?
ANSWER: The Bible does not eliminate the failures and missteps of God’s people - in fact there are times it details them. Few are left without a negative word written about them; but the sin of those God chose to use underscores what Scripture tells us about the depravity of the human condition. (Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9). Indeed, ALL have sinned.
The key to David’s success in the eyes of God, was that he understood repentance. Another great king and contemporary of David was Saul. He was every bit as called and equipped as David, yet his sin got the best of him. The difference was not the degree of sin; in fact David’s may be considered worse; but Saul would not repent.
To repent means to change your mind morally toward sin. It involves a genuine change within the heart. It is more than being sorry you hurt others or remorse for creating an uncomfortable situation. It is different than turning over a new leaf. It is a return to a starting point and a place of restoration.
The good news for us is that sin does not disqualify us from serving God. Certain transgressions may disqualify us from specific areas of ministry because of the world in which we live, but a repentant heart can always be used. God is more concerned with where you are and where you are going, than where you’ve been.
To get a good picture of repentance, read Psalm 51. This is David’s prayer for forgiveness and cleansing. It is evident to even the casual reader that he is experiencing a brokenness that accompanies true repentance. It is because of this process that he is able to be restored to right relationship with God and become once again - a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22).