King David wrote Psalm 51 when he realized the depth of his sin. The prophet Nathan confronted him about his affair with Bathsheba (cf. 2 Samuel 11–12), and David was shocked to see how far he had fallen.
David prayed for God’s mercy. God is merciful, and He invites us to come before Him with our brokenness. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (verse 17).
Only God can create a clean heart within us and renew our broken spirit (verse 10). We cannot do so through our own efforts or self-discipline. We must lean on God’s mercy and grace to turn away from sin.
David acknowledges: “My sin is always before me.” We live in a fallen world. We cannot avoid sin completely. We are sinful from birth (verse 5); it is part of our human condition. Yet God continually calls us back to Himself, washing us clean. “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (verse 7).
The season of Lent invites us to examine ourselves and bring the things we are not proud of before God. David is deeply aware of his brokenness. He seeks God’s forgiveness and experiences the joy and restoration found in Him. What joy it is to know that God has forgiven us. In response, we experience “joy and gladness” (verse 8).
“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you” (verse 13). When God transforms our hearts, it becomes a powerful testimony. We want to tell others what God has done in our lives so that they too may find freedom from bondage and healing in Him. What joy it is to be reconciled to God!
Psalm 51 moves through:
-Courage to look within
-Resting in divine mercy
-Whole-hearted worship
-Renewed identity in Christ
May we find courage to look inward so that we can be renewed in God.