A Psalm of Renewal
How can we embrace an attitude and desire for renewal?
Verse of the Day
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.”
Today’s Devotional
We are going to spend a few days on Psalm 51. King David wrote this psalm after the prophet Nathan pointed out to him the error of his ways. David saw, coveted, and then committed adultery with Bathsheba, who was married to another man. Then to make matters worse, David then arranged for Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to be killed on the battlefield.
Let’s take encouragement that David, God’s chosen king of Israel and the man after God’s own heart, was a human man who had sin in his life. Let’s also be reminded that he didn’t even see or acknowledge his sin until a brave friend pointed it out to him. We should be asking God to send those kinds of people into our lives.
Psalm 51 is a cry from David’s heart asking God to renew him. To cleanse him. To restore him. To forgive him. To set things right again, which only God has the power to do.
For today, let’s read the Psalm and make David’s cry the mediation of our minds and hearts today.
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
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.
For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
Can you empathize with David’s cry to God in this Psalm? May we be people who are willing to be moved an changed by reading God’s Word and making it the cry of our own heart.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
Do you have any Nathans in your life – friends who love you enough to say hard things? Are you brave enough to be that kind of friend for anyone?
What stands out to you about Psalm 51 today?
How can you embrace an attitude and desire for renewal today?