One of the greatest examples of repentance and renewal comes is Psalms 51. The background of the story is 2 Samuel 12 when Nathan approaches David about his double deception of adultery and murder. What follows in this psalm is in many ways a blueprint of what constitutes true REPENTANCE to God. Follow if you will:
Verses 1:6
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.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place
David recognises the merciful nature of God. The compassionate and just God who will clear us of our sins if we are truly penitent. David recognised his own sin, "I know my transgressions" and who he had sinned against "aganist you, you only" he reiterates to God.
The Hebrew word for sin Chata' can be translated as to miss the mark, or to lose one's way, to go wrong. David had missed the mark. Succumbing to his base and selfish desire he took his eye off the target, the righteousness that can only be found in God. Kwowing this he admits to God he has missed the mark, and in admitting it he realises he also clarifies God as a good and righteous judge.
Ironically David once stated that he was wonderfully made, but here in the middle of his sin, he realises that he was born in sin, not as an excuse for sin, but to remind himself that he could only be restored and pointed to righteousness through God. He confirms this by stating to God that such righteousness, such truth such wisdom could only be placed by God within his "inner parts", his soul, his spiritual being, so that he would not fall to such a sin again.
...continued
Verses 1:6
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.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place
David recognises the merciful nature of God. The compassionate and just God who will clear us of our sins if we are truly penitent. David recognised his own sin, "I know my transgressions" and who he had sinned against "aganist you, you only" he reiterates to God.
The Hebrew word for sin Chata' can be translated as to miss the mark, or to lose one's way, to go wrong. David had missed the mark. Succumbing to his base and selfish desire he took his eye off the target, the righteousness that can only be found in God. Kwowing this he admits to God he has missed the mark, and in admitting it he realises he also clarifies God as a good and righteous judge.
Ironically David once stated that he was wonderfully made, but here in the middle of his sin, he realises that he was born in sin, not as an excuse for sin, but to remind himself that he could only be restored and pointed to righteousness through God. He confirms this by stating to God that such righteousness, such truth such wisdom could only be placed by God within his "inner parts", his soul, his spiritual being, so that he would not fall to such a sin again.
...continued
to the goodness of God and what he has to offer. That our reading of this psalm would encourage us to seek true repentance and honesty with our God.
