“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 ESV).
After David repented of his sin of adultery, he prayed that God would “create” in him a clean and pure heart. The Hebrew word for “create” is the same as is found in Genesis 1:1 (בָּרָא, bārā’), where it says, “In the beginning God ‘created’ the heavens and the earth.”
David didn’t ask God to clean up his old sinful heart. He asked God to create in him a new and pure heart, one that would have a right and steadfast spirit. He longed to have a heart that would please God. David appealed to God for a heart transplant.
In David’s prayer we see the Old Testament anticipation of the New Testament doctrine of the New Birth. For this is a prayer and a spiritual longing that has been answered in Christ Jesus. Those who come to Jesus are made a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). In Christ, we find the fulfillment of David’s prayer and of Ezekiel’s prophecy, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26).
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You have created in us a new heart through faith in Christ Jesus. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to live a life pleasing to You today and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.