From: September 7, 2024
“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.
From: September 7, 2023
“Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just” (Psalm 51:4 NLT).
David wrote this psalm in repentance after committing adultery with Bathsheba. Although he surely recognized he had sinned against her and her husband, he felt more grieved that he had sinned against God.
This is the mark of true repentance. Not that we admit that we have broken the law, but that we recognize the magnitude of having sinned against the Lawgiver. David was grieved that he had sinned against God. He further recognized that God was just and blameless when it came to David’s sin. He did not blame God, nor anyone else, for his transgression.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). David took full responsibility. He recognized that God would be blameless in whatever justice He dispensed upon him. He recognized God’s righteousness, but he also knew God’s mercy. So, he cried out that God would “be gracious” towards him, not according to anything David could offer, but according to God’s own “abundant compassion.”
It was this same abundant compassion that moved God not only to answer David’s prayer, but to answer the need of the whole world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for forgiving us our sins. Examine our hearts and reveal to us any transgression that we might confess and be made clean. Especially help us with those besetting sins that continue to defeat us. Give us victory over them that we might become more and more like Jesus. For it’s in His name that we pray, amen.
From: September 7, 2022
THE UNFAILING LOVE AND GREAT COMPASSION OF OUR GOD
David prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba. He did not ask for God’s mercy based on himself, but according to God’s “unfailing love” and “great compassion.” David knew what his sin deserved, yet he cried out for God to forgive according to His nature, not his own. He did not bargain with God, promising some great sacrifice. He begged God’s forgiveness, willingly confessing his sin and repentance.
David’s prayer is a template for those of us who would confess our sins and seek forgiveness from God. For God has already demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). The Hebrew word translated “unfailing love” is “chesed.” It’s a close synonym to the New Testament word for love, which is “agape.” It is God’s unfailing love, His agape love, that moved Him to send Jesus to die for us.
As Jesus said in the gospel of John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
PRAYER: Dear God, we confess our sins to You, asking you to forgive us according to your unfailing love and great compassion, which Christ Jesus demonstrated by giving His life for us. Thank You for this great salvation, Lord. We are free from condemnation because we are in Christ. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: September 7, 2017
David wrote this psalm in repentance after committing adultery with Bathsheba. Although he surely recognized he had sinned against her and her husband, and against his own conscience, he felt more grieved that he had sinned against God, saying, “Against You, You only, have I sinned.” This is the mark of true repentance. Not that we admit that we have broken the law, but that we recognize the magnitude of having sinned against the Lawgiver. David was grieved that he had sinned against God. He further recognized that God was just and blameless when it came to David’s sin. He did not blame God, nor anyone else. As the apostle Paul wrote concerning this, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4). David took full responsibility. He recognized that God would be blameless in whatever justice He dispensed upon him. He recognized God’s righteousness, but he also knew God’s mercy. So, he cried out that God would “have mercy” upon him, not according to his sin, but according to God’s own “lovingkindness.” It was this same “love” (John 3:16) that moved God to answer David’s prayer, not only for him, but for all who would call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38).
From: September 7, 2016
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, bera), “In the beginning God ‘created’ the heavens and the earth.” David wasn’t asking God to clean up his heart. He was asking God to give 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. This is a prayer and a spiritual longing that has been answered in Christ. Those who come to Jesus are made a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).
From: September 7, 2015
Paul encouraged the Corinthians in their giving by reminding them of how others would “glorify God” for their obedience to the gospel. Those who have received the gospel have received God’s greatest gift. Receiving, their hearts have been changed, so that they have become conduits of God’s grace. As Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:8). Do others give glory to God for the way you “freely give” so that your gospel confession is given credibility?
From: September 7, 2014
David prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba. He did not ask for God’s mercy based on himself, but according to God’s “unfailing love” and “great compassion.” David knew what his sin deserved, yet he cried out for God to forgive according to His nature, not his own. He did not bargain with God, promising some great sacrifice. He begged God’s forgiveness, willingly confessing his sin and repentance. David’s prayer is a template for those of us who would confess our sins and seek forgiveness from God. For God has already demonstrated His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).