Praise God, that His Word–the Bible–not only gives us a vivid account of David’s sin (2 Sam 11) and Nathan’s God-guided encounter with David (2 Sam 12), but it also gives us Psalm 51, David’s heartfelt repentance of the sin that Nathan had so vividly exposed.  This is a wonderful prayer for us to pray when we repent of our sin.  It covers so many aspects of our relationship with God.  It is so relevant to us and the culture in which we live.

 

David starts with “Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love.”  Praise God that His relationship with us is based on mutual love. It could have been a relationship of laws and punishment, or one of justice. Instead, His relationship with us and also with David is a relationship of love between Him and us.

 

Even at this dark period of David’s life, he knows that as he repents he can trust God’s unfailing love, although he is being punished both with the loss of a son and the promise that another son, Absalom, will steal the kingdom from him.   David continues, “According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”   In the middle of being punished David knows that God is compassionate and that he can call on Him.

 

David also shows that he knows God is in the transformation business.  Look at verses 2, 6, 7, 10, 12, and 17.  Verse 11 shows that David knows that the Holy Spirit dwells in him, as He does in us, although most of the teaching of the Holy Spirit is found in the New Testament.   David’s intimacy with God had helped him understand the power of the Holy Spirit in his life.   We too can understand that power, as taught by Jesus and Paul, and also learn it our own experience with the Holy Spirit.  If we seek Him, He will teach us.

 

Verse 17 shows the great benefits of humility and brokenness in the face of our own sin.  It says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.”   Again, Jesus affirms this when, in Luke 18: 10-14, He talks about the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple.

 

Devoutly and in humility go before God and pray Psalm 51 as it relates to one of your sins.

 

Your fellow traveler,    

 

Roger