Scripture:
v1-2, 10
[1] Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
[10] Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Observation:
David was broken – he was at rock bottom
David was repenting – repenting of adultery and murder. You can’t get much worse.
He asked for forgiveness and mercy – mercy as great as the Lord’s unfailing love.
He asked the Lord to forget his sins ever happened and not hold them against him – to blot them out.
David asked to be totally cleansed of his sin.
Then, after all of that, he asked expectantly to have a new start – to have his heart replaced with a pure heart and a spirit within him that is unwavering toward the love of God.
Application:
This is Gospel in the OT
We should not label ourselves as sinners, and stop there. We should however recognize our human form and that our flesh is hardwired to sin. We are hardwired to chase after worldly things like pride, money, power, or possessions. David felt this and through his prayer we can see an important formula long before God sent His Son to die for us.
In our brokenness, first recognize our sin
Repent of our sin
Ask for forgiveness
Ask for mercy
Ask the Lord to forget our sin – blot it out
Ask to be cleansed of our sin
Ask for a pure heart filled with the Holy Spirit
Ask expectantly for all those things.
All we really need to do is recognize our sin, repent of it, and accept Jesus as our Savior. Through His death. resurrection and grace the rest is free.
Don’t wait until you are at a rock bottom in your life. I challenge all of us to recognize on a daily basis, that we are broken and to ask expectantly for forgiveness and mercy, to be cleansed of our sin, and to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and guide us.
Prayer:
Lord let me recognize that I am a broken messy individual and that while I try not to be, I am victim to my flesh at times and sin against You. Thank you Jesus for dying for me; for justification and my salvation. Thank You for the grace and mercy You pour out on me every day. Help me keep my eyes and heart fixed on You and my heart filled with Your Spirit, leaving no room for Satan to interfere. Amen