Psalm 51: Forgiven & Freeનમૂનો

Have you ever realized just how easy it is to start doing things without God? Going through your days with small prayers or doing the “right things” without necessarily the right posture?

I do. I actually did something similar to this just this week. I felt like the Lord was leading me to write a devotional on Psalm 51, so I listened and started writing.

And as I did, I forgot the most important thing: bringing God into the writing process. So after I was partway through Day 2, I scrapped it all, recognizing that it was all meaningless if I did the religious things without the Father’s presence in it. It would be meaningless to each of you, too, to read it without God fully being present in my words.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the type of scheme that the enemy used against David, prompting Him into deeper and deeper sin before the prophet Nathan convicted him. David, a man after God’s own heart, was used to doing all of the religious things. He was used to the authority that God had given him. But then he committed a horrible crime against Bathsheba, sent an innocent man to be murdered, and ultimately strayed far from a righteous path.

While I may not have reached that point, I think that oftentimes these small wanderings of my heart can be the start of more and more if I'm not careful to repent and turn back to Him.

This is the heart behind Psalm 51. This Psalm, written after David was convicted by Nathan, begins with a plea for mercy, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (v. 1-2).

The word for “blot out” used in verse 1 is actually the Hebrew word “machah” (pronounced maw-khaw). It conveys the idea of not just a tiny blot of ink scribbling over a word, but actually a complete erasing of something. This would have had a strong meaning for most Jewish people during this time, as there were legal repercussions of this word outside of just the spiritual sense. To blot something out was to erase it from history or record, and that had large implications.

David boldly goes to God and asks Him to erase all records of his wrongdoing, his sin, and his unrighteousness. He wants to be fully cleansed and forgiven - and he approaches the Lord to ask Him this.

One of the most significant things about David’s action here is the way he operates out of a true belief of who God is. Another way to say this is David had a “right view” of God. Sometimes when I mess up, I can become so ashamed that I don’t want to go to God. I am either scared of what He might say or so ashamed that I just don’t think He will have anything to say at all. Perhaps you have felt the same before! Yet shame does not appear to be something that David is bound by in this scripture. Instead, he recognizes His wrongdoing and walks forward in the light, asking for the Lord’s forgiveness.

So, as you go out today, I want to challenge you with 2 things to reflect on and ponder:

1. Are you often so caught up in doing the right thing all the time (or the religious thing) that you forget to bow before the feet of Jesus, allowing Him to guide your steps first? If so, take a moment to do as David did and say, “I’m sorry, God. Would you cleanse me of this way and give me wisdom to take new steps forward?” He has already forgiven you!! Do not hold onto any shame!! You are free, friend.
2. Do you feel like you are able to go to God when you mess up? If not, don’t worry. I've been there! It feels really hard. However, I want to encourage you to take a moment to read a few scriptures that remind you of the truth of God’s real character. He is not a flawed, earthly Father, but instead an adamant and caring Father. He wants the best for you, and He has already forgiven you!! You can go to Him, friend.

Go in peace today as you reflect and take a moment in God’s word.