Psalm 51:1,2 – “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
There is a note at the beginning of today’s psalm which reads, “To the Chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” The account of David’s infamous adultery with Bathsheba can be found in 2 Samuel chapter 11.
This psalm is extremely instructional for those of us who have committed sin and desire to be restored in communion with God. David realizes that sin is never satisfied and will not stop with one occurrence. A single offense toward God contains the seed of rebellion and generational sin. David’s prayer for absolution contains three important aspects: 1) blot out my transgressions; 2) wash me thoroughly from my iniquity; 3) cleanse me from my sin. Blot out means to erase. What does David want erased? Transgression…rebellion. All sin will lead to rebellion if not dealt with early on. Wash means to trample upon. What does David want trampled? Iniquity…generational sin. He wants it to stop with him and go no further, so much so that he wants it stomped upon. Cleanse means to be pure, uncontaminated, and holy. David desires his relationship with God to remain intact.
David’s recognition of the powerful effects of sin is further revealed in verses 10 through 12, which have become classic: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Again, notice the dangerous potential of unrepentant sin.
Finally, David brings us on the inside of his spirit with verse 17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.” A gift is required by Old Testament law as a payment for sin. David’s payment will be humility and brokenness.
Sin is hungry, a devourer of all that is pure and holy. We must guard against it. But when it does penetrate our lives we must deal with it immediately and deeply so that we do not become subject to its ravages.