In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar (Psalm 51:18-19). David concludes this very personal … Continue reading
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17). … Continue reading
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from blood guilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and … Continue reading
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:12). Boy, that David. It’s all gimme, gimme, gimme with him, isn’t it? Forgive my sins! Cleanse me with hyssop! Create in … Continue reading
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:11). Priorities After all that he has done, after all the grief he has caused, in the face of all the consequences of his most … Continue reading
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). David gets it. He doesn’t make any excuses before God, and he doesn’t make any promises he knows he can’t keep. I mean, … Continue reading
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity (Psalm 51:9). “Wow, I hope nobody saw that.” How many times have you thought those words? Oh, come on—it’s more than that and you know it. When you … Continue reading
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. (Psalm 51:8). Sin hurts. See, that’s why you come here—the deep theological truths. When you belong to Christ, you can’t live in sin. OK, I guess you … Continue reading
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7). Lady Macbeth knew. Most of us can recall little of our high school Shakespeare, but we remember the murderous queen … Continue reading
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place (Psalm 51:6). Why can’t God leave well enough alone? He has the surface—I look the part, act the part—anyone on the outside would think … Continue reading