Read
(For the music leader. A psalm by David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had been with Bathsheba.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1 You are kind, God!
Please have pity on me.
You are always merciful!
Please wipe away my sins.
2Wash me clean from all
of my sin and guilt.
3I know about my sins,
and I cannot forget
the burden of my guilt.
4 You are really the one
I have sinned against;
I have disobeyed you
and have done wrong.
So it is right and fair for you
to correct and punish me.
5I have sinned and done wrong
since the day I was born.
6But you want complete honesty,
so teach me true wisdom.
7Wash me with hyssop
until I am clean
and whiter than snow.
8Let me be happy and joyful!
You crushed my bones,
now let them celebrate.
9Turn your eyes from my sin
and cover my guilt.
10Create pure thoughts in me
and make me faithful again.
11Don't chase me away from you
or take your Holy Spirit
away from me.
12Make me as happy as you did
when you saved me;
make me want to obey!
13I will teach sinners your Law,
and they will return to you.
14Keep me from any deadly sin.
Only you can save me!
Then I will shout and sing
about your power to save.
15Help me to speak,
and I will praise you, Lord.
16Offerings and sacrifices
are not what you want.
17The way to please you
is to be truly sorry
deep in our hearts.
This is the kind of sacrifice
you won't refuse.
18Please be willing, Lord,
to help the city of Zion
and to rebuild its walls.
19Then you will be pleased
with the proper sacrifices,
and we will offer bulls
on your altar once again.
Reflect
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), but he was a man who also followed after the “lusts of his flesh,” or as we would say, bodily appetites and sexual desire. Psalm 51 is David’s confession after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and was confronted by Nathan the prophet (see 2 Samuel 11:1- 12:25).
David was without excuse before God. His sin was fully exposed. David didn’t sugar coat his situation. He confessed his sin. Yes, David violated Bathsheba, and had Uriah, her husband murdered, but ultimately David’s sin was against the Lord. You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong (Psalm 51:4).
We share David’s struggles; we want to be godly and follow after the Lord, but we are often lured away by “lusts of our flesh.” We know what it means to wrestle with sin and lose the battle. David helps us to see the compassion of God. The apostle Paul, also no stranger to guilt, writes that God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Therefore we don’t have to run from God, but can run to God’s mercy.
We need the Word of the Lord to come to us on a daily basis to convict us, to cleanse us and to renew our minds. While the world seeks to squeeze us into its mold, God is working to transform our hearts and make us holy.
Respond
Holy God, whose ways are perfect and just, remember us in your unfailing love. We confess we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Have mercy on us Lord. Wash us clean from all of our sin and guilt. Create pure thoughts in us and make us faithful again. Amen.
Jody Cross
Dr. Jody Cross is a worship pastor, recording artist, author and worship ministry consultant. His passion is to glorify God by developing leaders, equip worship teams and lead God’s people in worship. Jody has released a book on worship and justice, This Is Our Love and has produced two award winning worship albums. Jody serves as Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church in Orillia, Ontario. Jody is married to Alexandra. They have four teenage children. Publications: This Is Our Love: Engaging a Broken World Through Worship CD’s: Forward To Forever Rekindle Rejoice: Christmas Worship