...LISTEN...
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
When the prophet Nathan came to him after David
had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 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.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) - Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica
This Psalm shows me that the way back to right relationship with God after a fall is not through action but condition. After acknowledging his sin, the Psalmist comments how God does "not delight in sacrifice" nor does he "take pleasure in burnt offerings." (verse 16) What he does want is our pride replaced with "a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart" (verse 17). Why?
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing we can do to make up for the hurt and offense we cause God when we choose to act contrary to his standards - when we sin. That debt can only be paid by separation from God - spiritual death. Jesus paid that for us on the cross when he cried "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And continues to pay for my sin when I confess and repent.
What God is looking for is a spirit that so cherishes a relationship with him that when that relationship is damaged by sin and he becomes distant our heart hurts; we long to be restored once again in perfect communion with him. That is a broken and contrite heart.
The question I have for myself is this: Is my relationship with God so important, so vital, so intimate that if I feel him pulling away because of my sin that I hurt - I mean really hurt? Maybe one of the reasons that I continue to sin is because my relationship with God is not as intimate as it needs to be.
God, draw me close - draw me closer to you today!