Psalm 51--Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

This psalm was written by David after his dreadful sins of adultery and murder. As you all know, David saw Bathsheba bathing herself when he looked out of his palace window. She was an attractive woman, so David went in unto her, and committed adultery with her. Her husband, Uriah, was off battling at this time. David later received news that she was pregnant. To hide his sin, David asked Uriah to spend a night with his wife so it would seem as if he was the father of the baby, not David. Uriah refused to go home while his men still had fighting to do. So in another attempt to hide his sin, David commanded that Uriah be put at the forefront of the battle. Uriah was placed at the forefront, and was killed. After almost nine months, the Lord brought Nathan the Prophet unto David, who told David about his sin. David then confessed his sin. We have his plea for forgiveness recorded here, which is, therefore, also our plea when we fall.

First we, with David, ask for the Lord's mercy. Through our constant yearnings for God's mercy, we receive the mercy and grace, or undeserved favor, from God. We ask him to blot out or transgressions and hide our sins from view. God then, being a willing and gracious Father, forgives us. What does it mean to have our sins blotted out? It means that our sins are completely gone, without a trace. Question and Answer 60 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks, "How art thou righteous before God?" The answer is "only by a true faith in Christ; so that, though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had nor commited any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart."

Perhaps you, O reader, have committed sins that you thought God could never forgive because those sins are too abominable. The guilt may press upon you so hard, that maybe it feels as if God has forsaken you. Then, what the Word says to you is this, that a broken spirit and contrite heart is pleasing to God. Do you desire to be at peace with God, and experience His favor? Then go, right now, on your knees before Him, beg for cleansing and pardon, and a renewal of a right spirit, and your faithful Father will hear. Have no doubt, O sinner, that your prayers and requests are more assuredly heard of God than you even feel that you desire these things of Him. Flee to the cross of Christ for your redemption. Finally, rejoice in the gospel of grace. Rejoice that all of your shame and guilt is nailed to the cross of our Lord Jesus, and you bear it no more.