Cleanse Me

“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.” Psalm 51:1-4

David was a godly man and a good king, but he was still a sinner. In spite of all of the good things that he had done in his life, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah in an attempt to cover it up. When God sent Nathan the prophet to confront him, David acknowledged his sin and immediately sought for forgiveness. David wrote Psalm 51 during this time in his life. He was dealing with an enormous load of guilt. He said, “My sin is ever before me.” It was something that he thought about all of the time. He could not get it off his mind. In repenting of his sin and asking God for forgiveness, David appealed to God’s mercy and lovingkindness. He asked the Lord to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from his sin. He asked the Lord to create a clean heart in him. In other words, he wanted to be able to start over; he wanted to be a new person from the inside out. God is willing to forgive our sin and to cleanse us within, but He is looking for us to have a contrite heart and to display a repentant spirit.