Blake Allen
Dunbar Cave Campus Pastor
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
David’s prayer of repentance is found in Psalm 51. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah, David is confronted by the prophet Nathan who calls him out using a illustration. Once David realizes he is the man in the illustrative story shared by Nathan, David recognizes his sin. He pleads for forgiveness, begins to fast, and asks God to spare his child. Unfortunately, the consequences of his sin led to the death of his son.
David’s prayer gives us direction on how to ask for forgivness in prayer. David does not excuse his sin. Instead, he ask for a clean heart and a renewed spirit. He acknowledges his sin before God and confesses it. To often, we try to excuse our sin and find ways to justify it. But this does not lead to a clean heart and a renewed spirit.
God wants to restore the joy of your salvation. He wants you to cling to His presence. He is willing to forgive your sin, no matter how grave it is. This is why Jesus came. He nailed our sins to the cross. His blood was shed for you and I so that we could experience forgiveness, the joy of salvation, redemption, and renewal. His invitation is to come before Him and confess your sins. He is faithful to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. What sins are you clinging to that you need to confess today?
Confess your sin. Believe upon Jesus. Receive the joy of salvation.