Slideshow image

Summer Psalms - On Psalm 51

August 25, 2022

Pray for Illumination - Heavenly Father, help me to know your ways; teach me your paths and lead me into your truth. Amen.

Read Psalm 51

Have you have ever been visiting with someone and it’s a special meeting – business meeting, date - and you get a stain on your shirt.  All you can think about is that stain and you think that all the other person can see when they look at you is that stain…one big stain!   In this prayer, that is David.  There is no hiding it his great sin!

I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.  Psalm 51:3

“I see the stain!  In fact, it is all I see!”  But not only is David aware of his sin, he knows that there is no hiding it from God:

 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;   Psalm 51:4

But this is not how he wants God to see him - Hide your face from my sins (vs 9). So in this prayer of David’s, we see him repeatedly say, “CLEAN ME”!

…blot out my transgressions.
 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.  

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
   …and blot out all my iniquity.  Psalm 51:1-2, 7,9

This prayer is for all of us.  The Bible says that no one is righteous before God.  No matter what has happened in our lives.  It doesn’t matter if we have ketchup on the cuff of our pants or all over our face…in view of God’s purity and holiness, we are stained.  

In David’s day, in order to maintain ritual purity, sacrifices had to be offered regularly for sins.  But David, recognizing his deep failure and sin deep in his heart, knew he needed more than a ritual cleaning.  He prays to God to do a deep cleansing - “…create in me a pure heart.”  He knew only Creator God could do a new work in his heart.  

God answer to David’s prayer and to our prayer is Jesus Christ.  Jesus atones for our sin in his death on the cross so we can enjoy fellowship in God’s presence (stain free) because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  We are dressed in his righteousness.  God does not look upon us with disgust but rather with love and mercy.  Today he is ready to do a deep cleansing in your heart.  Put your trust in Christ.  

Restore to me the joy of your salvation… Psalm 51:12