SCRIPTURE: PSALM 51
MEMORY VERSES:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (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)
“Create in me a pure hearts, 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 Psalm of David was written when prophet Nathan came to rebuke him for committing adultery with Bathsheba.
PRAYER OF DAVID ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS:
- Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. (v. 1)
- Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (v. 2)
- Hide your face f rom my sins and blot out all my iniquity. (v. 9)
DAVID’S ADMISSION OF GUILT:
- For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
- Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. (v. 4)
- Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (v. 5)
THE PETITIONS OF DAVID:
- Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean’ cash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (v. 7)
- Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. (v. 8)
- Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (v. 11)
- Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (v. 12)
- Save me from bloodguilt, O God, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. (v. 14)
- Open my lips to declare your praise through my mouth. (v. 15)
- In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. (v. 18)
THOUGHTS:
The sins of David hurt his whole being. He lost fellowship with God (v. 11) and the joy of the Lord (v. 12). But when he came in repentance with a broken heart asking for forgiveness, God graciously forgave him.
Every time we commit a sin, it offends God because sin is rebellion against God’s way of living. Like David, we must ask God to cleanse us from within, filling our hearts and spirits with new thoughts and desires. Ask God to create a pure heart and spirit in you.
Whenever we sin, God’s presence is no longer with us. The only way to restore our relationship with God is to confess our sins so that God can give back the joy of our intimacy with Him.
After David had been restored by God, he taught God’s ways to the transgressors so that the sinners could turn back. When God forgives our sins and restores our fellowship with Him, we should reach out to others who need His forgiveness and reconciliation.
Feeling sorry for your sins need a broken and repentant heart. God will be pleased only if you have a genuine contrite heart, not on outward action only.