“A Pure Heart”

February 20, 2024

February 20, 2024

Read Leviticus 7, Psalm 51, Hebrews 7

Psalm 51 is a psalm of David. The subtitle tells you that he wrote it after the prophet Nathan confronted him about committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed. David had thought he had gotten away with his sin. He thought he had covered it up. He had it all planned out, but God wasn’t fooled. The way that Nathan did it you can read about in 2 Samuel 12. It was a bit shocking, but I got David’s attention.

David cries out to God, “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” vv. 1-2. There is also great theology in this psalm. David declares “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge” v. 4. Even thought David did wrong against Bathsheba and her husband, ultimately David sinned against God because it was God’s law that David had broken. Next, we read about sin as imputed from birth. We are born with a sinful nature. A bent to do wrong. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” v. 5. You do not have to teach a young child to be selfish or to react in their emotions. It comes naturally.

This seems like bad news, but we are not done yet. David knew who to go to for forgiveness and to cleanse him. “Cleanse 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 you have crushed rejoice” vv.7-8. When we find forgiveness from God it restores our joy and removes the guilt and shame that we feel because of our sin. Many people try to hide it today. They want to minimize their sin for various reasons. Remember David was the one that is often called “the man after God’s own heart.” It is only because God is the one who can do what David asked next. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” v. 10. Nothing is unforgivable with God (1 John 1:9). If we are alive, we can seek forgiveness from Him. No matter what we have done, even the worst of the worst can find forgiveness in Jesus. Don’t believe me? Just remember David who committed the sins he did.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes do you see?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

Let Scripture Speak

March 9, 2010

Sometimes, I just can’t find the words to say or to share just the way  I want.  I like to turn to the Bible and let it speak to me, speak for me.   I can’t do a better job than God.  Psalm 51 was a psalm of David.  He wrote it after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sins with Bathsheba and her husband.  He wrote it when he felt probably the lowest spiritually in his life.  No,  I didn’t do anything like David did, but I’m can identify with him and how he felt.  I long for forgiveness and a fresh start in life, ministry, and with my family.   I pray that I will never again find myself far away from God and that He will keep me on the straight and narrow path.

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 that you are proved right when you speak
       and justified when you judge.

 5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
       sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
       you teach me wisdom in the inmost 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,
       and sinners will turn back to you.

 14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
       the God who saves me,
       and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

 15 O Lord, open my lips,
       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 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
       a broken and contrite heart,
       O God, you will not despise.

 18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
       build up the walls of Jerusalem.

 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
       whole burnt offerings to delight you;
       then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Taken from the NIV Bible

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Posted by John Weldon