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
In Psalm 51, we see the response of David to what is likely the most notorious sin he ever committed. Not only did he commit adultery with Bathsheba, but he also ensured the death of her husband in war. It’s hard to believe that these are the actions of someone who is described as “a man after God’s own heart.”
Verse 4 gives us a fascinating glimpse into the heart of David. He could have talked about how he failed his family, or how he disrespected Bathsheba’s family. He could have also talked about how he sinned against Israel and failed them as their king. Instead of suggesting his sin was against different people, he recognizes that at the core, his sin is against God – and God alone.
When we see the impact our actions have in the lives of others in the physical world, it is only a glimpse of what is really going on in the spiritual world. Our sin is a failure to faithfully represent the image of God that is in us – we fail and betray him when we sin.
David’s foundational desire is to have his relationship with God healed (vv 10-12). He recognizes that everything else in life flows from this point. Too many people seek God’s forgiveness as a way to escape the consequences of their sin. David teaches us that the motivation for seeking forgiveness is simply to know that we still have the joy of a close and restored relationship with God.
God is not looking for you to work harder to prove that you won’t make the same mistake twice; He is looking for you to be broken and humbled before him. In that place of brokenness and humility is where you will encounter the acceptance and forgiveness of God, and where his Spirit can begin the work of renewing you to be the person you are created to be.
Respond
Dear Father God, You are a God of faithful love and abundant compassion. Show me the ways I have sinned against you (pause here and wait to see what God shows you). . . My sin is against you – and you alone! Clean my heart – renew my spirit to be disciplined when temptation comes. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.