“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.”
Psalms 51:1-19 NLT
The profundity of Psalm 51 cannot be overstated. It outlines many important factors that describe why David is “a man after God’s own heart.” And it charts a way forward for us to be as well. Firstly, it represents a very public confession. Given that it was presented at a time when no social media was present, it would’ve been relatively easy to remove his sin from the history books. Here we see it addressed and enshrined as part of the nation’s process of praise. Second is the focus of his repentance. It is upon the nature of his heart more than his actions. These are seen as bred from his unclean heart. Lastly is the subject of offense. It is God who is offended by his sin, not those who suffered from it. David’s Psalm is that of a man who is seeking orientation for his heart. It is not a psalm of confession but of contrition. It is the prayer of someone who acknowledges, in his sin and judgment, the fundamental facts of the case. He at the mercy of the court. Beyond this, he thinks this is good. Too many Christians appreciate salvation but loathe judgment. This should not be so. We ought to welcome it as a rightful cost for how we have offended God. We are not worthy of his love, though he loves us. Without this essential element in our confession, we are simply bragging about God’s forgiveness. This only ever brings more wrath and righteous indignation upon his people.
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