Let us be honest for a moment. Everyone who has committed a truly horrific sin…maybe even some that have minor sins…are really, really, really glad that Psalm 51 is in the scriptures! I am raising both hands to testify of this!!

• We are glad because we see a great man that God loves who is broken over his sin and it gives us hope.
• We are glad because we are glad to know someone else, even if it is someone else from thousands of years ago can relate to what we are feeling under the weight of our sin.
• We are glad because we intrinsically know that the answer to David’s prayer is, “I forgive you My child.” And we believe and know, “then I can be forgiven too!”

Oh it is a Psalm I have gone to more times than I care to admit in my life…this and Psalm 32

I want to point out a couple key thoughts that come to me from this 51st Psalm:

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” Ps. 51:1

David doesn’t appeal to God based on His past actions, “Oh God remember how well I’ve served You and that I have been basically good ’till now…” No, David knows that there is no reason he deserves forgiveness but that forgiveness is accessible to him through the love and power of God. Our appeals for forgiveness should not be based on negotiation of our merits, but simply asking Jesus to pour out His compassion…which He has in abundance…unlimited even.

“For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.” -Ps. 51:3, 4

David’s confession does not try and justify or rationalize his actions. There is no, “Well I was under pressure, and I messed-up this once.” He just confesses.

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” -Ps. 51:6

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Ps. 51:10

“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” -Ps. 51:16, 17

David doesn’t spend a lot of time talking about the actual sin of his adultery and murder…in fact read the Psalm again and notice he never mentions it directly. I point this out because how many times do we spend talking to God about the outward action of our sin but not the true sin, the true issue. David understands that the ultimate sin was not what took place with Bathsheba or Uriah, the ultimate sin was what took place in his heart that allowed him to get to that level of action. So he goes to God and acknowledges and asks God to deal with the root of the problem, his heart…what is one the inside.

“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.”-Ps. 51:13

David’s commitment to God–as you give me the joy of salvation I will teach people about You and I will lead people to follow You. I will do evangelism.

Do we go back to our sins so often because after we confess and ask forgiveness we don’t then GO TO work for the Lord’s cause?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 35 & 36