Psalms Sunday - Psalm 51

Psalm 51
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,[a]
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 inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may 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 uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.


I found this, while researching this Psalm. I had a feeling that this Psalm had to do with David's guilt and regret.
"Psalm 51 is the fourth of seven penitential psalms (psalms of regret or sorrow)… Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143… written by David after the prophet Nathan confronted him regarding his adulterous behavior with Bathsheba and for ordering the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah.

This is a very passionate Psalm… one where David acknowledges his sin, AND takes full responsibility for his actions. His heart cries out to the tender mercy and loving-kindness of God, as David offers a broken spirit as a sacrifice for his sin."


So, have you been there, where David was? Have you ever done something you felt so ashamed of? Have you ever done something out of your character? Have you ever distanced yourself from God, while taking part in sinful habits? Have you had that same remorseful heart? Have you had that same conversation with God, as you cried out to Him to forgive you, to give you a clean heart?
I have been there, as I am sure we all have.

And even if we feel we haven't been exactly where David was, because we feel we have never done something as bad as what he did, we must keep in mind, that sin is sin. Sin is all the same in God's eyes. And we are all guilty and fall short of the Glory of God. And it is only through His son, Jesus Christ, that we can be saved. And it is so important to come to God, with a humble heart and ask for forgiveness. Guilt that we hold onto, will just destroy us. It will put up a barrier within us between ourselves and God and it will begin to destroy our relationship with God. So, just give it to Him, pour out your heart to Him. Show Him that you are broken and desire a clean heart, for that is what He wants us to do. And He loves us so much that He will hold us, dry our tears, forgive us and wash our sins away.

Just because we are Christians… does not mean we will never, ever offend God. David committed two just terrible sins… yet God still called him ‘ a man after my own heart’… (Acts 13:22). Learn from David, how to deal with your own failure, how to go to God… how to deal with those things that the Holy Spirit brings to your attention… (and He will!!!), how to confess, how not to blame others… and how then to walk in the power of forgiveness…free from guilt and shame.1 Peter 1:15 says…’as He who called you is Holy, you also be Holy in all your conduct’…

So I pray this Psalm reminds you again to walk, live, breathe and move in the power of forgiveness… upright and free, for you should always remember that there is a weightiness that accompanies sin and will weigh you down from the inside out. Our freedom, though it cost God His best, brings a liberty that can only be experienced through the grace and wonder of salvation.
~ Darlene Zschech

Please take the time to listen to this: It is Beth Moore's Parable About the King.


The best part is this quote:
"You are mine, but child, You will never be happy until you accept both the privilege and the responsibility of belonging to me."