In my first blog we looked at the background of Psalm 51 where David’s sin was recorded and he uttered this prayer — Psalms 51 — soon after the prophet faced him concerning his affair with Bathsheba. Once David was made aware of the fact that the Lord knew what he had hidden in his inner parts, he went to work to set things right between himself and God. We can learn from David’s approach to address the hidden things in our lives. This could be hidden things that we know about, or hidden things that we do not know about or have buried them away in the subconscious. When asked to recall the first memory of my mother, in my book I talk about how difficult it was for me to recall that memory. It was completely hidden from my conscious mind, yet it had influenced my thinking and decision-making about important areas of my life.
Back to David and his approach to the hidden thing in his life. The first thing David did was to call upon the Lord for mercy. “Have mercy upon me O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion . . .”. Notice that David is relying on the Lord’s mercy, on the Lord’s unfailing love according to the Lords compassion.
What is mercy? Dictionary: “Kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; a Disposition to Forgive; Forbearance and Compassion.” Bible Dictionary: “The Outward Manifestation of Compassion.” Mercy is compassion to those in trouble, even if the trouble is of their own making, or their own fault. So God’s mercy does not give us what we deserve. David a man after God’s own heart no doubt understood that it is by God’s mercy that we are allowed to receive that which we do not deserve and did not earn. David knew that he deserved destruction and separation from God, but he called on God’s mercy to step in and deliver him.
Secondly David acknowledge his sin, — his transgression. “For I acknowledge my transgression and my sin is always before me”. When we admit our transgression and realize that it is aganist God that we have sinned, this is the beginning of healing and restoration of our relationship with God.
Thirdly David as for help. He ask the Lord to “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”. And he doesn’t stop there in verse 10 he ask the Lord to “Creat in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. David ask the Lord to “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by your generous Spirit.” Let’s not be too proud to ask the Lord for help. Have faith that he will indeed help. In Jeremiah 33:3 says the Lord “Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know”. God keeps his promises.