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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 4 of 5
Psalms 51:1-19
Psalms 51:1-19 was written by David in truly painful circumstances (2 Samuel 12:1-31). He shows us the feelings experienced in the soul through real conviction of sin, as well as the path marked out by the Holy Spirit to restore communion. Let us consider the painful steps: the confession of the wrong done (v. 3); the thought that God has been offended, and not just such and such a person (v. 4); the reminder of our own evil nature (v. 5); the sense of God’s requirements as to "truth in the inward parts" (may we never forget v. 6); the desire for a good, clean conscience (v. 10); finally the need for him to return to practical holiness (v. 11), to joy and to devout service (vv. 8, 12). Once he has been restored, the believer will be able to teach others the grace which has forgiven him (v. 13; cf. Luke 22:32).
All this work does not involve the offering of any sacrifice (v. 16), of any act of penance. A broken spirit, a truly humbled heart, that is what God can accept through the efficacy of the work of Christ (vv. 16, 17).
Dear friends, if at some time we have allowed ourselves to be overtaken in some sin, let us read this psalm again in the presence of God, not just as the confession of David, but as our own prayer.
