This Sunday, we continue the sermons series in the Book of Psalms. A few weeks ago, when we started in our ‘Psalms of Summer,’ Pastor Adam shared that, “The wide variety of Psalms is a reminder that wherever we find ourselves in our lives, we can turn to God, we are not alone - wherever our emotions take us - these reveal how little human emotion has changed over 3000 years— worship is always fitting.”
This week we are spending our ten minutes with God reflecting on Psalm 51. As you read through this chapter, I pray that you feel his presence and understand His desire to forgive you; I pray that you feel freedom to confess and repent so that you feel restoration and the wholeness that only He can give you.
Psalm 51 (NIV) reads:
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.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 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.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
In this chapter, David is crying out to God. He shows us the importance of confession, repentance, and restoration. This Sunday, Pastor Adam focused on three important aspects of this chapter.
Confession and repentance bring freedom (not cover-up)
Forgiveness is freely given, but it doesn’t remove the consequences
Restoration is about accountability for yourself and helping others as they struggle
We must remember that God is relational; he wants to connect with us, and he wants us to feel His presence. When we read these scriptures, we see how relational our Father God truly is.
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Monday: Confession and Repentance Brings Freedom
As we start another week, I’m sure your mind may feel overwhelmed with things that you feel you need to accomplish this week. As you begin your week, remember that our Heavenly Father’s love is unconditional. He doesn’t love us any more or less when we fail or when we succeed. This week, come to the Father with an open heart.
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 51: 1-3.
Our God is merciful, and his love is unending. As we read, David asks the Lord to blot out his transgressions, wash away iniquity, and be cleansed from sin (verses 1-2).
In one commentary on Psalm 51, I read that “the removal of guilt is also triply described” in this chapter. In verse 1, the use of “Blot out: sin is regarded as a debt recorded in God’s book which needs to be erased and canceled.” In verse 2, “Wash me: denotes that inward cleansing of which external washings were the type.” In verse 7, “Cleanse me; like wash, a common term in the Levitical ritual, especially in the laws concerning leprosy, meaning sometimes to cleanse,” (Source: Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges).
In verse 3, David reminds us that “I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” Take time today with God and allow Him to reveal to you any sins or transgressions that are weighing on your heart.
Pray to our heavenly Father to blot out any transgressions; ask him to wash and cleanse you of any sin. We pray that God will remove any guilt in your heart. End your prayers thanking our Father for his unconditional love and forgiveness.
Tuesday – God wants honesty
When my children were young, my son used to get very frustrated with me because I could always tell when he was lying to me. One day after confessing his wrong doings to me, he asked me how I always knew he was lying. I told him that if he told the truth, it’s easier to share, and the truth doesn’t change. When you lie, it takes time to come up with the lie and then the story can often change.
As Adam preached the message on Sunday, I thought of the parent, child relationship and the relationship we have with our heavenly Father.
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 51: 4-6.
God wants honesty from us, and he doesn’t want us to hide. Just like a child lying to his parents, God doesn’t want us to hide or cover up our sins from him.
Pray today to your heavenly Father. Remind yourself that he knows your heart, he knows your sins, and only He is justified to judge. Pray to your Father about your honesty; continue to ask God to reveal sins that you may not be honest about.
Wednesday – Give me a clean heart
As you read today’s scriptures, take time to listen to “Create In me a clean heart.”
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 51: 7-9.
In verse 7, David asked to “cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” The first thing I asked myself is, ‘what is hyssop?’ I learned that hyssop is a plant in the mint family, which also has medicinal purposes. According to Benson's Commentary, “lepers, and other unclean persons, are by thy appointment purified by the use of hyssop…”. Hyssop purified those that were unclean and washed them “whiter than snow.”
When David references whiter than snow in verse 7, David knows that his Father will make him “entirely clean.” According to Gil’s exposition, “The blood of Christ makes not only the conversation garments white that are washed in it; but even crimson and scarlet sins as white as wool, as white as snow…”
Spend time in prayer today and ask your Father to cleanse you. You have been honest with God this week about your transgressions, and know that our Holy Father has washed you, cleansed you, and made you whiter than snow. Rejoice with Him!
Thursday – Pure and clean hearts
Yesterday, you listened to an old worship song that was released in 1986! If you have extra time today, listen to it again. Otherwise, I ask you to recite this verse multiple times throughout your day.
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 51: 10. “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (NIV).
Today, I want you to read different versions of this scripture and see which speaks to your heart. Here are a few different versions:
AMPC - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.
CEV - Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.
EHV - Create in me a pure heart, O God. Renew an unwavering spirit within me.
NET - Create for me a pure heart, O God. Renew a resolute spirit within me.
NIRV - God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.
NLV - Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved.
The Message – God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
When David sings, “create in me a pure heart,” David is asking God to make him clean; clean his heart of his sins and sinful ways. David asks God to renew his spirit; give him a new, strong, unwavering, resolute, and faithful sprit, that cannot be moved.
Pray to our heavenly Father and recite this verse today. Thank Him for his loving and cleansing power. Thank Him for renewing you.
Friday – “From the mess, comes a message.”
On Sunday’s message, Pastor Adam shared that, “As we confess, we find forgiveness, we also find restoration.” God wants us to receive his healing so that we can help others avoid the same pitfalls.
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 151: 11-15.
As we have focused on confession, repentance, and forgiveness in previous days, now David is singing about being near to God and sharing God’s message. He wants the Holy Spirit to remain in him and wants to be restored to the joy of His salvation. David says that he will teach other sinners God’s ways so that they will also turn back to God. David asks for deliverance, sings God’s righteousness, and declares His praises.
Let us pray. This week, we have confessed and asked for forgiveness of our sins; we pray to remain close to you, Father. Continue to draw us nearer to you, Lord. Holy Spirit, we pray that you remain in us and restore us to the joy of your salvation. Father God, guide me to teach others your ways so that others turn back to you. You are our God and Savior, and we declare your praises. Amen.
Saturday – Reveal your brokenness
We are concluding another week in Psalms. Do you feel that you have been vulnerable with God this week? Were you able to reveal your brokenness during your prayer time? Was it hard to confess and ask Him for forgiveness? Remember that God wants the real you, not the pretend you. He wants honesty and authenticity from us.
Reflection/ Action: Read Psalm 51: 16-19
As Pastor Adam reminded us on Sunday, God puts the broken pieces together; He restores what is broken. Our spirits may get broken, but He mends us, puts us back together, and still loves us!
Spend time in prayer and recite verse 10 of Psalm 51 again today. Remember that God wants you to confess and repent so that he can restore you. He gives us a clean heart. Take time and thank Him for fixing your brokenness and giving you a clean heart.
I pray you had a blessed week, and we look forward to another Psalm next week.