A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART

This verse is taken from:
Psalm 51
Thought of the day for:
7 March 2023

God loves to see repentance. He hates sin, but longs to show mercy. If this were not so, then David’s case would have been hopeless,and so would ours. “But God, who is rich in mercy”, Eph. 2. 4, saves the penitent from despair. David sought forgiveness in the multitude of His tender mercies.

God took the initiative towards David’s repentance. The title of this psalm and the record of Nathan’s visit to the king, 2 Sam. 12. 1-14, show that it was then that David was smitten with conviction. God did not allow him to cover up his sins which he contrived to do; see Prov. 28. 13.

David’s crime was great; so was his contrition. In Psalm 32, he reflects the happiness of being forgiven; in Psalm 51, the heartache of conviction of sins. 2 Samuel 12. 14 shows the effect of his sin on those around; in Psalm 51, we see the effect upon himself. Heart-broken and in anguish he cries, “Have mercy upon me”, “Wash me”; “Cleanse me”; “Purge me”. The reference to hyssop, v. 7, shows the sense of defilement that he felt (see Num. 19. 18; Lev. 14. 4). In his confession, as a proof of true repentance, he did not just admit his sin, but acknowledged that he understood its serious nature, using the words, “sin”, “iniquity”, and “transgressions” to describe it. He had broken the sixth, seventh and tenth commandments. These applied to one’s neighbour, yet he was convicted of the Godward aspect of his guilt, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned”, v. 4. He was also aware that he had an inherent sinful nature, v. 5.

In his prayer for restoration, vv. 10-12, David pleads, “take not thy holy spirit from me”. He knew that this had happened to Saul his predecessor, who had been rejected from being king, 1 Sam. 15. 23-30; 16. 14.

Such a request would be inappropriate from our lips today. We are permanently indwelt by the Spirit, John 14. 16-17. Furthermore, “we have an advocate with the Father”, 1 John 2. 1. We have been cleansed from all sin, once and for all, 1. 7, but we need the continual “washing of water by the word”, Eph. 5. 26.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of’, 2 Cor. 7. 10.

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