“Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” Psalm 51:6 ESV
Reflection: why is honest self reflection difficult, but also critical in restoring relationships?
Psalm 51 is perhaps one of David’s most powerful works, because through it we still can learn so much about sin and forgiveness. About redemption. You might remember the situation, where David had initially lusted after another man’s wife, Bathsheba, and eventually “taken” her. She became pregnant. And, to try to cover his wrongdoings, David end up getting rid of the man so that he can have Bathsheba and the child for himself. Essentially murdering her husband. It is amazing to read the story, of so much wrong done, how could he ever function as a family man after all of this? As a member of society? As a king?
How could God ever forgive him?
Through this psalm, we can learn a lot about what was actually going on within David, as he processed his own doing. Jesus taught us about forgiveness, that we are also to forgive, but it is not just based on empty words or actions. Let’s look at what he said. “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”” Luke 17:3-4 ESV. We see the three steps he teaches about restoring relationships, or reconciliation, being rebuke, repent, and then asking for forgiveness. Then, he commands us to forgive, so that the relationship can be restored. The question is, do we see these same three steps in psalm 51?
Let’s look at the first, “Rebuke”. God had called the prophet Nathan to go to David, to tell him the evil he had done. Why was that necessary? Wasn’t David already aware of his own wrongdoing? Well, it is a good question. Because, in a way of course he did, but we see in the psalm that David had not yet taken ownership for his wrongdoing. He had sacrificed, perhaps done all the “external works” that the law demanded of him. He writes, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.” Psalms 51:16 NKJV. So what was missing?
Let’s look at “Repentance”. The rebuke by Nathan led to the breakthrough in David. He took ownership for his sin. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 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.” Psalm 51:3-4 ESV. He didn’t try to make excuses for his wrong, nor go through some external motions like sacrifice. He understood his wrong, which led him to a broken heart and spirit. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 ESV. This is true repentance, and only then can we plead with God for mercy.
Finally, we arrive at forgiveness. David says therefore, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” Psalm 51:1-2 ESV. Notice that he is not asking for anything he deserves. He is pleading with God, according to His love, and His mercy. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” Psalm 51:7-9 ESV
David finally asks God to do what only God can do in him, “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.” Psalm 51:10-12 ESV.
In our focus verse today, we see this beautiful little verse, in the middle of the psalm, recognizing that it is God doing this work within him, showing him truth. Teaching him wisdom.
Today, take some time to study this psalm, and the words of Jesus. Are there relationships you want restored? The scripture tells us how.