Psalm 51 is a classic Psalm that talks of repentance and humility before God. It is a Psalm of truth and honesty before God and seeking forgiveness.
In my study Bible it tells me this is a psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
David had done the wrong thing and he was confronted with God’s words by the Prophet Nathan. Rather than get defensive and try to discount what he had done, David confesses and seeks forgiveness.
In verses 7-11 we see this…
Psalm 51:7-11 NLT – Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. [8] Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me- now let me rejoice. [9] Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. [11] Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
David not only wants and seeks forgiveness, but he wants a new clean heart with a loyal spirit. He wants a clean heart and loyal spirit so he will not sin again.
Earlier in the passage we see that David admits his sin and acknowledges his sin is ultimately against God…
Psalm 51:4 NLT – 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.
When I read Psalm 51, I begin to understand what true repentance looks like. David acknowledged his sins and asked for forgiveness, and he also wanted God to make him faithful so he would not sin again.
When David asks for a new heart and a loyal spirit he was asking for the strength, desire and grace to be truly faithful to God. He wanted to be pure and blameless in His eyes.
David was not perfect, far from it, but God still described Him as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David wanted his sins blotted out and to sin no more.
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