Psalm 51
August 28, 2023
Psalm 51 is a psalm I turn to often. David wrote it after the prophet Nathan was sent to him by God to confront him over his adulterous and ultimately murderous relationship with Bathsheba. The psalm finds David crying out to God for mercy, confessing his sin, and acknowledging that only God can take the stain of this sin away.
Here are some verses from Psalm 51 that bless me big time. Look at verses 10-13.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you.
There’s comfort to be found in David’s unwavering faith in God. I’m reminded of a saying relating to sin that I use in my ministry work: There’s no such thing as too far gone. Not in God’s economy at least. Let’s face it, David’s owning up to some heavy transgressions. He destroyed a marriage. He betrayed one of his most loyal soldiers, Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. He gets Bathsheba pregnant and to avoid scandal arranges for Uriah to die in battle so that he can take Bathsheba as his wife, appearing almost heroic. And the big one…he did all these things believing that God wouldn’t notice.
As if.
But look. When David finally turns back to God to deal with his mess, he has confidence in God’s willingness to create in him a new heart. For those of us who follow Jesus today, you might consider 2 Corinthians 5:17 as sort of a parallel to what David’s saying here. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Remember that when we mess up, Jesus’ hope is that we will turn to Him to be reminded of His ongoing, unwavering forgiveness. David asks for his spirit to be renewed. Thanks to Jesus’ work on the cross you and I are blessed by the ability to go confidently before His throne of grace and receive that grace and be transformed by it. And as often as we need His grace, Jesus covers us in it. As David points out, confession leads to restoration and an understanding that we are eternally saved. We’re reminded that nothing in this world can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.
Once David receives this restoration, look what he commits to. This is applicable to us as well. David tells God that with this restoration, “…I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you.”
It is essential that we get this. Once we stand in the light of Jesus’ forgiveness, we must share with others what He’s done for us. And we share what He’s done openly, honestly, and humbly. I know that most of the people taking the time to read this have more than likely experienced Jesus lifting them out of some dark, desperate situation. You need to tell others about that!
It doesn’t require you to be a Bible scholar, you’re simply sharing the Truth. The Truth is that without Jesus your life was governed by whatever it was that had a hold on you. For me, it was alcohol and pornography. For years, I wouldn’t talk about the pornography addiction. I let shame and pride get in the way. When I finally got over myself and worked it into my testimony, it was amazing the number of men who reached out to me – and still reach out to me – seeking Jesus as the way to overcome that sin struggle.
We live in a day and time where the Christian Church has been bullied into tolerating sins that I promise you Jesus is not okay with because Jesus doesn’t tolerate sin. He forgives sin. But He also requires two non-negotiable things from us. First, we seek to be in a relationship with Him. We study His Word and prioritize prayer and joining in Christian fellowship. Second, that we share the Good News of His Gospel. And again, that’s as simple as explaining to someone how Jesus impacted your life and changed it for the better. And we do that in a loving, gentle, and respectful way. Not everyone you share with is going to drop to their knees and receive Jesus in that moment.
That’s okay!
Our job as believers is to cast the seeds. Jesus will do the nurturing. Look at this from Matthew 5:14-16. This is Jesus speaking from the Sermon on the Mount, addressing us restored sinners.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Experience the restoration and salvation Jesus extends to you every moment of your life and then…be a light!