At the beginning of Psalm 51, there is a note that links it to an event in the life of David, the author of the psalm.
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Nathan confronted David with his sin. Many people–perhaps you and I–deny our sin or minimize our sin. We prefer to ignore it or compare ourselves to others saying, “I’m not as bad as that guy.” Or, “She’s way worse than I am.”
But how did David respond? He was the King! He could have sent Nathan to prison or had him killed. David’s response in Psalm 51 shows us why he was called “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14).
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” (Psalm 51:1-4)
Like David, we have a choice to make: Will we try to hide our sin from God or will we confess our sins and repent in order to restore our fellowship with God? Ask for the same thing David asked for:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:10-12)
In David’s case, even though God forgave him and spared his life, he and his family still suffered some of the consequences of his sin. His family was never the same.
Pardon wipes away our sin, but not always the consequences in this life. This should challenge us to put off sin and cooperate with the Holy Spirit (whom God never takes away from believers in this age). We should ask God to “create in us a pure heart” and “steadfast spirit” so that we may avoid the destructive consequences of sin and walk in “the joy of God’s salvation.”
