(1)Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
(2)Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2
In my opinion, the most beautiful lamenting Psalm David compose was Psalm 51. He was just confronted by his high priest for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. A sin that David went to great effort to cover up.
We all can try to run and hide from our sin, but God knows. His goodness probes our minds with questions of righteousness, actions of purity, and visions of light to stir our hearts. And sometimes like David, He sends a trusted friend to confront us with the Truth to help draw us to repentance for His Name’s sake, for His glory, for His honor, for His Kingdom.
Could it be that in our most desperate, despicable acts of selfishness and pride, we are so caught up in “self” that even when God freely offers salvation we claim it through our own strength – not His grace?
Here in Psalm 51, David gives the greatest appeal for God’s mercy written for all sinners. He claims responsibility for his sin and throws himself at the mercy of God. David gives God glory for every mercy, every act of righteousness, for everything that was good in his life! You can’t claim your life, your property, or even your family. They are gifts from the Giver of all good and perfect things. The only thing you can claim in life is your sin. Yet, even then, God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take them away. He is the only good, gracious, merciful, loving Father. Hallelujah!
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