Psalm 51: Confession, Repentance, and Restoration

No matter how safely I drive my car, when I see a law enforcement vehicle, I panic. The fear of breaking the law scares me. This automatic reaction prompts me to consider how I think of God and His response to my sin. Do I see God as a traffic cop or as gracious and merciful Father (Exodus 34:6)?

King David, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), confronted with his grievous sin, turned toward God instead of hiding from Him. I learn from David that the best place for me when I sin is in God’s presence. A child of God, His gracious and merciful heart welcomes my confession of sin and repentance.

Confession

As I mature in faith, I recognize more and more my need for daily confession.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶ Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.  Psalm 51: 1-6

Repentance

Once offered, confession leads to repentance, a turning away from sin and towards God.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right^[b] spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Psalm 51:7-12

Restoration

Having confessed and repented of my sin, God faithfully forgives and cleanses me from unrighteousness. He readies me again to do His will.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
¹⁹ then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.  Psalm 51:13-19

Blessed are the Forgiven

Until Jesus returns, I will practice running to God with my sin. He is ready and waiting to forgive and restore me.

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”  Romans 4:7-8