Psalm 51

What word describes a broken, desperate, and tearful man crying to God after being confronted with sin? A repentant man. The man seen in Psalm 51. David, the cover of his evil scheming blown, is left gazing at the murder/adultery he arranged. Gazing at sin exposed as sin. All sins promises of dreams fulfilled, pleasures satisfied, and needs met are still out of reach and seemingly even further away from David’s grasp. What is someone to do? What does a repentant man do?
David relies on what he knows about God. He appeals to what he knows about God. He clings to what he knows about God. Who is God but a God of steadfast love (v1). Who is God but a God of mercy (v2). Who is God but a God who always calls true evil as evil (v4), but also offers forgiveness as true forgiveness (v9). David calls on the God he knows, with a repentant heart, to be, well God.
What else does David seek? Forgiveness yes, but also a clean heart that is joyfully aware of God’s redeeming presence (v7, 11). He desires to know the joy of God’s salvation and the pleasure knowing God is upholding you (v12). All so he can bring sinners back to God, fruit of a clean heart (v13).
What do you do when confronted with sin? As David does, we weep, cry out and desperately call God to be who he truly is. Do you know who God is? What verses can you cling to in repentance? We cannot ‘get over’ the guilt of sin ourselves, but we can trust in God, the God we know to forgive us, to punish sin, and then to wash it away all through the blood of his son.
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Pastor Josh Dekker

​3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 48-49