Psalm 51 (NIV)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Reflection:
David is remembered as one of the greatest kings of Israel, but here we see his response to one of his greatest failures - his sin with Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan had just confronted David and announced God’s judgment for his sin, but instead of trying to justify himself or falling into a guilt trip, David openly acknowledges his sin and comes honestly before God. He comes before the Lord realizing the gravity of his sin, fully exposing his heart, and falling upon God’s mercy. His sin was indeed very great, but because of his true heart of repentance and his intimate knowledge of who God is, David knew he could come before the Lord and ask for His mercy despite what he had done. And as a result, God eventually brings restoration into his life.
David’s response is foundational to how we are to live as Christians. We are to have hearts like David that are fully exposed in humility and dependent on God’s mercy. Having this heart will open doors into an intimate relationship with Him.
Responding to the Transmission:
As we live with our hearts fully exposed in humility before God, we can grow in a deeper relationship with Him. Let’s spend time in prayer today once again asking for His mercy in our lives and seeking a deeper intimacy with our God.
