David confronted with his sin, calls out to God for mercy. He knew what he had done was wrong, he had committed adultery and in essence murder. Yet he understood his God and prayed:
People tend to focus on verses 10-12, yet each verse shows David's understanding of not only his sin, but of his God. In verses 1 and 2 he prays that God will:
- have mercy
- blot out his sins
- Wash him
- Purify him
Verses 7 - 11 he acknowledges he needs God alone to cleanse him and purify him. And ask to have his relationship with God restored.
Verses 12 - 15 seem to be David's commitment to God. He is acknowledging his part in this relationship.
In the final section 16 - 19 David acknowledges what God really desires from all of us, which is a broken heart that truly loves our God, not a bunch of meaningless sacrifices.
Here is a road map for each of us when we have sinned. And the sin doesn't have to be as drastic as adultery or murder, let's face it Jesus taught to lust after another is the same as adultery and to hate someone is equal to murder. (OUCH)
When we're confronted with our sins we need to go to God and ask for His mercy and to be cleansed. 1John 1:9 reminds us that He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness all we need to do is confess.
The reality is so true we need God to cleanse us and even though He never leaves us when we've sinned it feels like it so that restoration of our relationship is important. As I read David's words in verses 16-19 I realize that it's okay to tell God this is what I'm going to do. And it's not the "God if you get me out of this jam, I'll be a missionary in Africa" type prayer, but a sincere commitment to worship Him and serve Him.
For me the last section is so important, having been in a holiness tradition all my Christian life, it is very easy to fall into a "works makes me good enough" mentality. Just like the Pharisee's of Jesus' day who did lots of good things but their hearts were far from God. God wants my heart, the 'works' are a natural result of a heart that loves God and wants to serve Him.
Sorry this one got so long. This passage really jumped out at me tonight.
I hope you have a very blessed Sunday.
Psalm 51
ReplyDelete7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
David acknowledges his sin is against God and is repentant. God forgives him and broken relationship is restored. As far as the east is from the west God removes our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12) May we have nothing stand in the way that separates us from Him, that we must hide. Clean before the Lord. To be quick to repent when the Holy Spirit reveals hidden and known sin. God's mercy is great and He is merciful to forgive us. That is why He sent His Son to bring us back into right relationship with Him. Only the Blood of Jesus can cleanse us. Our God reigns.