Psalm 51:1-12 (NRSV)
Create in me a clean heart
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Reflection
Here David pours out his heart to God in repentance of his sin against God, Bathsheba and Uriah and so many others. I too have poured out myself before God in repentance of sin. In repentance I am overwhelmed by shame, humbled and broken, yet saved by the mercy and grace of God. Repentance does not free me from the consequence of my sin. The damage is widespread and many beyond the obvious are hurt. Sin is primarily against God.
In my sin I separate myself from God. I turn away from the ways God would have me follow. I am in deep need of God's cleansing and need a complete spiritual washing. So in repentance, I cast myself before God and am at the mercy of God's wrath.
Yes, I too have sinned just as David sinned. But, thanks be to God, I have been washed clean, restored and forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord, thanks for not casting me away. Thanks for restoring me to the joy of your salvation. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment