King David wrote Psalm 51 shortly after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-12:15). When Nathan confronted him with this sin, King David fell to his knees and turned back. He sought public restoration as both king and spiritual man, as this psalm clearly shows. Because of this attitude, God allowed him to remain king until the end of his life.
Why were some kings removed from office when they committed moral failures, while others were not? Why was David allowed to remain king? The answer may lie in the Law of Solid Ground. David practiced this law and won back God's trust. Leaders who do not repent, or who only do so superficially in public, often lose their positions. And it is also true that some sins disqualify a leader from further service. But most leaders do not fall because of their mistakes, but because of their deceptions. (e.g., Austria's Chancellor Kurz—fraud involving a media company (2021), Christian Wulff—suspicion of corruption (2012), Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg—fraud with his doctoral thesis (2011)).
History shows that the public forgives a leader who genuinely recognizes a mistake and turns from it. Mistakes happen. But when a leader deceives those who follow them, they lose both their trust and their following.
Psalm 51
God, Be Merciful unto Me, a Sinner (The Fourth Penitential Psalm)
1 A Psalm of David, to the chief Musician,
2 when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
3 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
4 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
5 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
6 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
7 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
8 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
9 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
10 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
11 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
13 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
14 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
15 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
16 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
17 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
18 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
20 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
21 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.