[:en]This is a Penitential Psalm when the prophet Nathan came to David after he had committed adultery with Bathseba. David confessed his sins and said to the Lord: “Have mercy upon 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” (vs. 1-2)
The word “transgressions” means “rebellion”. The word “iniquity” means “to be crooked”. The word “sin” means “to miss the mark”. When we sin, we rebel against God, we make our character crooked and we miss the goal that God has for us. When David used “blot out”, he was referring to his sin as a debt. When he used “wash me” he was talking about sins as a dysfunction of conscience, mind and heart. When he used “cleanse me”, he was comparing his sin to a disease like leprosy, which can spread and ultimately be killed.
David’s requests:
- Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean (v. 7a)
- Wash me and I will be whither than snow (v. 7b)
- Let me hear joy and gladness (v. 8)
- Hide your face from my sins (v./ 9a)
- Blot out all my inquity (v. 9b)
- Create in me a pure heart (v. 10a)
- Renew a steadfast spirit within me (v. 10b)
- Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me (v. 11)
- Restore to me the joy of your salvation (v. 12a)
- Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me (v. 12b)
- Save me from bloodguilt (v. 14)
After David had confessed his sins and God had forgiven him, he was able to witness and talk to people about the Lord. He was able to open his mouth and declare praise to God.
God does not delight in sacrifice or take pleasure in burnt offerings. What God wants is a broken heart and and a contrite spirit. God looks at the heart, not at the hands or what you are offering. A broken heart is not a remorse or regret. It is repentance – turning away from sin, and living in obedience to His way.
David ended this psalm with building up walls, His sins gave the opportunity to the enemies of Israel to blaspheme God. He was tearing down the walls of Jerusalem. That is why he wanted to build up the walls of Jerusalem again to protect themselves from enemy’s intrusion.
Things to Ponder:
- Sin is awful and serious. Instead of covering it up, confess it and ask God to forgive you.
- Sin brings damage to our inner spiritual life and affects our whole being. We need the blood of Jesus to clean it so that we can experience joy and gladness. Then our heart will be tuned to the music of God and the harmony of heaven.
- Ask God to create us a new heart and give us a steadfast spirit so that we can enjoy fellowship with the Lord.
- We have been called of God to be His witness. We are to teach transgressors God’s ways. We are to convert sinners to Christ. But our sin will affect our witness. So, let us ask God to cleanse us and to open our lips so that we can share the goodness of the Gospel with others.
- Let us bring to God the sacrifice of a contrite heart.
- Strive to please the Lord by buidling up and not tearing down.
Remember this:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (v. 17)[:]