God offers hope and forgiveness to sinners. Psalm 51 is David’s psalm of brokenness, contrition, and sorrow because of his sins concerning Bathsheba and her husband. David could not undo what had been done, but he could find a way forward because of the grace and forgiveness of God. In Psalm 51:10 David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51 shows us how to seek forgiveness from God.
We Must Face Something. For a while, David attempted to cover up his sin (2 Sam. 11:26-27), but God sent Nathan to confront him (2 Sam. 12:1-7). In Psalm 51, David faces the gravity of what he has done. He refers to his actions as, “transgressions” (Ps. 51:1), “iniquities,” (Ps. 51:2), and “sin” (Ps. 51:2). What David had done violated God’s commandments, destroyed lives, and stirred the wrath of the God who had blessed David with so much. Seeking forgiveness requires us to honestly and painfully face what we have done (Prov. 30:12, 20; Lam. 3:40; Ps. 51:17).
We Must Want Something. Psalm 51 is filled with the desperate pleas of a man who wants what only God can provide. David asks for “mercy,” for he had broken God’s Law (v.1). He asks for “washing” and “cleansing” because he had become stained with sin (v.2, 7, 10). He asks for the “blotting out” of the sins on his record, for he knows that God sees and remembers all (v.1, 9; Heb. 4:13; Rev. 20:12). He pleads with God to hide His face from his sin (v.9), to renew a right spirit (v.10), to restore the joy of salvation (v.12), and to deliver him from guilt (v.14). Additionally, David begs God not to cast him away from his presence or to remove the blessing of His Spirit (v.11; cf. 1 Sam. 16:13-14). Nobody ever received forgiveness from God without wanting it!
We Must Confess Something. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The word “confess” literally means, “to say the same thing.” When we confess sin to God, we are saying the same thing that God already knows about us. David confesses in verses 3 and 4: “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…” Confession is saying to God, “I was wrong, I see how I was wrong, I have hurt You, and this was evil in Your sight.” Those who want forgiveness from God must confess their sins to Him (Luke 15:18-19, 21).
We Must Accept Something. Only God can remove the guilt and stain of sin. Those who seek His forgiveness must be ready to accept His love and mercy (Ps. 51:1). We must trust His ability to renew, cleanse, and restore (Ps. 51:2, 7-10). We must remember His response to broken and contrite hearts (Ps. 51:17). It is both wonderful and humbling to consider that God forgives sinners. As difficult as facing and confessing sin are, accepting God’s forgiveness may be the hardest thing for many people to do. God wants us to believe Him when He tells us we are forgiven. A heart like this will respond with praise and sacrifice (Ps. 51:14-19).
Thank God for the amazing forgiveness He provides through Jesus Christ.
-John Baker