Devotionals

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Ps. 51:1-17 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the) (prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.)

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

What Does It Say? : If there is a “masterpiece” among the Psalms this is it. David has utterly failed God and nation. His adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah rank as two of the most deadly sins a man can commit. For the story of how Nathan the prophet awakens King David from his “sin sleep” read, 2 Samuel 12:1-12. It will be worth your investment of time.

Suffice it to say that this chapter is a perfect example of a “believer” truly bringing heart and life to God in repentance. His great insight is that the Lord wants truth in the “inward parts” of man. When we fall into sin it is always because of a problem in the “inward parts”. It is a heart problem. If we loved God, as we should we could not sin as we do. If we loved our neighbor we would not sin against him either. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite hearts”. David adds that the Lord will never despise the person who has such a heart.

What Does It Mean? : Great men and those not so great are all tempted and often fail. Perhaps, not all men will fail in the manner that David did, yet we fail. Sin is a deviation from that which is right. It is a tear in the moral fabric of the universe. It is man moving away from God for He is Holy.

I must learn to hate sin because of what it does, not only to me but to others – God included. The One I love who game Himself for me I “crucify afresh” with my sin.

How Will I Pray? : Lord, I come with a broken heart. Not because of what others have done to me, but because of what I have done to others. Forgive my sin and restore the joy of my salvation. Cause me to show forth your praise with lip and life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

What Commitment Will I Make? : I will seek to be holy. When I fail I will return quickly to the throne of Grace to obtain the mercy provided through my Savior Jesus Christ. I will let the weakness of my life magnify the greatness of His love and care toward those who will humble themselves before Him.

(This is an abbreviated form of a devotion that I publish daily on my website. It is called, "The Healing Word".)

This article is copyrighted © by Dr. C. David White, 2009,
1851 River Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, FL 32211
You may download for personal use as long as you retain credit to the author. Obtain permission before reproducing for any reason
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[email protected]
Website nexusministry.com/ark

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references were taken from The King James Version of the Bible,

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