Psalm 51:1-17 (ESV)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Explanation:
Yesterday, we read that David was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, and “from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (1 Samuel 16:13). This changed the trajectory of David’s life, but we also know that David still sinned. Under the weight of his convoluted, covered-up sins, he appealed to the only One who had power to save him.
David begins with a humble plea for God to have mercy on him. He knows God is just, but it is His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness that David pleads for. God’s justice alone would bring David no closer to reconciliation, since justice requires his actions to be punished. David never speaks of his specific sins, focusing instead on God’s goodness. He contrasts the beautiful qualities of His loving God (steadfast, merciful, blameless) with the brokenness of his own life (transgressions, iniquity, sin). He knows he doesn’t deserve God’s mercy, just as we don’t in our sin. He asks God to “blot out” his transgressions, which equates to removing them completely; again, he acknowledges that only God can rightfully cleanse him.
But even after all of his bad decisions, David doesn’t try to hide from his sins. He brings his brokenness before God and lays his sins at God’s feet, hopeful and expectant, relying on the forgiveness of the God he knows intimately and still loves with all of his heart. He acknowledges that he was born into sin, and that it will continue to plague him for the rest of his life, just like it will us.
David then seeks restoration from God. David understands that his inner self, not outward sacrifices, is key to true repentance, and it is this honesty that eventually brings him renewal. He knows that his worst punishment would be for God’s presence to depart from him, and he begs God not to let this happen, promising to tell others about God and sing His praises forevermore.
David’s model is so important for us, because in every stage of his prayer, he confesses it is God alone who restores. David repented, and his life was redeemed. It took humility, vulnerability and a true heart for God, but it led to genuine change. This was God’s rhythm for David, and it is His rhythm for us!
Action Step:
This psalm finds David at rock bottom. Like him, this is often the only place we can find true humility, when we have nothing left. Think about the reasons why we let ourselves get to this place before we decide to turn to God. Then ask Him for His help in changing this pattern in your life going forward.
David’s example is a beautiful reminder that even when we are living for God, our sins will eventually catch up with us. But it is how we choose to deal with them that matters. This week, practice facing your sins head on and repenting immediately, knowing that you have the power of the living God to walk you through the process!
Prayer:
Father God, thank You so much for giving us the story of David, and proving once again that You care about every detail of our lives. Help us today to heed this loving example, and lead us to trust You, to turn our lives over to You the moment we begin to pull away. Your mercy is always available to us, we need only ask; thank You so much for this life-saving truth. We love You. Amen.