Psalm 51
Today's Passage: Psalm 51
The Psalms as a genre are relatable to the human condition, because they are written in high times and low times; times of worship, and in this case, times of repentance.
This Psalm was written following one of the lowest points of David’s life — his adultery with Bathsheba and covering up said adultery with essentially orchestrating the murder of her husband. (See 2 Samuel 12:1-14)
And yet, even in the New Testament, David is referred to as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). This passage of Scripture helps us understand why.
Here are three things to notice and apply from this passage:
1. David acknowledges God’s character. He acknowledges God’s mercy and love, but also his holiness. This is implicit in the fact that in order to call on the Lord’s mercy and covering of sin, sin must be abominable to God.
2. David owns his sin. He does not make excuses, he does not try to water it down. He recognizes it and confesses it to God.
3. David asks for God’s help to repent and change. How often do we, when faced with our own sinful choices, feel so ashamed and unworthy that we struggle to come to God at all? David models for us what it looks like to not only own our sin, but seek the true repentance that accompanies the true believer when sin occurs. He asked both for cleansing and forgiveness, but also a clean heart and restoration as well.
David was not a man after God’s own heart because he had a perfect, flawless heart. He was a sinner that needed a savior just as much as you and I do.
David was a man after God’s own heart, because of his genuine repentance.
Is there any sin in your life that you need to take to the Lord? Remember his loving, merciful and holy character, own your sin, and seek to grow and change by the grace of God.
Written by: Graham Withers
The Psalms as a genre are relatable to the human condition, because they are written in high times and low times; times of worship, and in this case, times of repentance.
This Psalm was written following one of the lowest points of David’s life — his adultery with Bathsheba and covering up said adultery with essentially orchestrating the murder of her husband. (See 2 Samuel 12:1-14)
And yet, even in the New Testament, David is referred to as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). This passage of Scripture helps us understand why.
Here are three things to notice and apply from this passage:
1. David acknowledges God’s character. He acknowledges God’s mercy and love, but also his holiness. This is implicit in the fact that in order to call on the Lord’s mercy and covering of sin, sin must be abominable to God.
2. David owns his sin. He does not make excuses, he does not try to water it down. He recognizes it and confesses it to God.
3. David asks for God’s help to repent and change. How often do we, when faced with our own sinful choices, feel so ashamed and unworthy that we struggle to come to God at all? David models for us what it looks like to not only own our sin, but seek the true repentance that accompanies the true believer when sin occurs. He asked both for cleansing and forgiveness, but also a clean heart and restoration as well.
David was not a man after God’s own heart because he had a perfect, flawless heart. He was a sinner that needed a savior just as much as you and I do.
David was a man after God’s own heart, because of his genuine repentance.
Is there any sin in your life that you need to take to the Lord? Remember his loving, merciful and holy character, own your sin, and seek to grow and change by the grace of God.
Written by: Graham Withers
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