In The Word
Read: Psalm 51
A Contrite Sinner’s Prayer for Pardon.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
This Psalm was written out of a major failure of King David. This was when King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, conceived a child with her, and then killed her husband, Uriah. Nathan, the prophet, rebuked King David, and his immediate response was to repent. Psalm 51 is birthed from his response to that failure.
King David did not try and make excuses for his actions, but acknowledged that he had sinned against God. He understood how man is born in original sin, but that is not an excuse to disobey God. His heart was broken by what he had done against God. He asked for forgiveness and restoration for a clear conscience, a return of joy, a willing spirit to serve, and a platform to teach others to repent.
God forgives King David and even allows him to keep his platform as King. However, forgiveness and consequences are two different things. Although he was forgiven, received a clear conscience, joy, a willing spirit to serve, and a platform to lead, the consequences of going down that road was costly. He lost the baby Bathsheba delivered, and a sword was placed in his family for the rest of his life. Sin is nothing to play with even though one may get forgiveness of it.
If you are walking in sin right now, may this devotion be a Nathan in your life to lead you to true repentance with a broken heart so God may forgive you…before it costs you more than it has already.