[:en]SCRIPTURE: PSALM 51
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1-2)
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7)
“Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity” (Psalm 51:8)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12)
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17)
This is a Penitential Psalm when prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
WHAT DAVID ASKED FROM GOD:
- BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS (v. 1) – When David used “blot out”, he was referring to his sin as a debt. The word transgression was “rebellion”. Sin had caused him to rebel against God.
- WASH AWAY ALL MY INIQUITY (v. 2a) – When David used “wash away”, he was talking his sin as defilement. The word “Iniquity” means to be crooked.
- CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN (vs. 2b) – When David used “cleanse”, he was comparing sin to a disease of leper. The word “sin” means to miss the mark of reaching the goal that God has for us.
David covered up his sins for about a year. He refused to confess and humble himself before God. Sin had affected his eyes (v. 4), mind (v. 6), ears (v. 8) heart (v. 10), spirit (v. 10) and mouth (vs. 13-15). He had lost fellowship with God (v. 11) and could no longer hear joy and gladness (v. 12).
Sin had brought tragic consequences to David’s family. His sin caused Uriah’s death. Bathsheba’s baby died. His daughter Tamar was violated by his brother Ammon, who was killed by Absalom. Absalom rebelled against David and wanted his throne but he was slain by Joab.
What David lost when he sinned:
- The presence of the Lord (v. 11)
- Joy of His salvation (v. 12)
- His song and witness to God (v. 15)
When David finally confessed his sin with a broken spirit and contrite heart, he fell into the hands of God’s mercy. God accepted his sacrifice and service (vs. 16-17).
REFLECTION:
- Have you been trying to cover some sins in your life? The Bible says: “He who covers his sins will not prosper” (Prov. 28:13)
- Is your conscience clear? Conscience is the window that lets in the light of God’s truth. If the window becomes dirty, darkness prevails and your conscience is defiled.
- Do you need God to cleanse your defiled heart or weakened spirit?
- Have you been in fellowship with Him? – God talking to you from His Word and your talking to Him in prayer?
- Do you love to please the Lord? God is pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness (v. 19). So walk in a way that pleases Him.
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