Day 159
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| A Broken King David |
Weekly Devotional
June 7—
Psalm 51: A King's Cry for Cleansing
Reflection
This past week you've launched your devotional study of the book of Psalms. You're coming right along in your walk through the Bible! Today let's slow the pace and focus on another psalm to help us think exclusively about our God, and about our own lives in the light of his Word.
After Nathan the prophet forced David to confront his sin, the king turned to God in humble repentance seeking his forgiveness. As you meditate on his psalm of confession, search your own heart for areas that need his cleansing touch, and praise him for his gracious forgiveness.
After Nathan the prophet forced David to confront his sin, the king turned to God in humble repentance seeking his forgiveness. As you meditate on his psalm of confession, search your own heart for areas that need his cleansing touch, and praise him for his gracious forgiveness.
Pray Humbly for Cleansing!
New "miracle products" emerge all the time, loudly heralded for their ability to clean everything from "tough, ground-in dirt" to "ring-around-the-collar." But there is still one cleaning job they are powerless to accomplish: the cleansing of a dirty heart.
Psalm 51 was penned during the darkest hour of David's life. For perhaps twenty years, the shepherd-king had ruled in righteous grandeur. But overnight, his sin with Bath-Sheba changed all that. First adultery, then murder, inflicted ugly scars on the king's life. Nathan the prophet was sent by God to confront David with the severity of his sin. And David responded with a heartfelt prayer for forgiveness: "Wash me, cleanse me, create in me a new, clean heart" (v 2, 10).
David knew that forgiveness involves two parties: the offender and the offended. Unless the offended party is willing to put away the wrong committed, there can be no restoration of fellowship. The price of pardon is never cheap, but David knew it must be paid. "It is a broken spirit you want—remorse and penitence. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not ignore" (v. 17).
Has your walk with God been interrupted by a dark stain of sin? Then get up right now and find a place where you can wash your hands. As you do, ask God to wash your heart as well. Confess your specific offenses against God, and experience his cleansing—the kind no soap can produce (1 John 1: 9).
Psalm 51 was penned during the darkest hour of David's life. For perhaps twenty years, the shepherd-king had ruled in righteous grandeur. But overnight, his sin with Bath-Sheba changed all that. First adultery, then murder, inflicted ugly scars on the king's life. Nathan the prophet was sent by God to confront David with the severity of his sin. And David responded with a heartfelt prayer for forgiveness: "Wash me, cleanse me, create in me a new, clean heart" (v 2, 10).
David knew that forgiveness involves two parties: the offender and the offended. Unless the offended party is willing to put away the wrong committed, there can be no restoration of fellowship. The price of pardon is never cheap, but David knew it must be paid. "It is a broken spirit you want—remorse and penitence. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not ignore" (v. 17).
Has your walk with God been interrupted by a dark stain of sin? Then get up right now and find a place where you can wash your hands. As you do, ask God to wash your heart as well. Confess your specific offenses against God, and experience his cleansing—the kind no soap can produce (1 John 1: 9).
Prayer
Father, we know our prayers change us when we come to you humbly asking for forgiveness and you cleanse us. We just ask you to guide us through your Spirit to pray with an honest and sincere heart like King David. We ask this in Jesus mighty name! Amen!
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| Pray Humbly Before the Lord! |
