Nathan the prophet went to King David to give the message that God was displeased over David’s sin with Bathsheba and to her husband. David immediately confesses, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2Sa. 12:13) Unlike our government leaders of today who often lie, cover up, or simply use a variety of words to gloss over sin, David acknowledges his sin against God and throws himself upon God’s mercy. David wrote Ps. 51 after his meeting with Nathan.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. v.9,10
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion Jerusalem
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| wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow |
“Don’t keep looking at my sins- erase them from your sight. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.” TLB David says to the Lord. He could have tried the easy way out. He could have gone and given hundreds of sacrifices pouring out rivers of blood, but David knew that was not what God wanted. The outward sign of a changed life- going to church, speaking Christianese, praying impressive prayers, teaching and serving- is not what God wants. Those are the sacrifices we give to Him, but read again what He wants.
The Lord desires a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. A broken/ crushed spirit speaks of remorseful and penitent life as well as a broken/ crushed and collapsed (no pride left) heart (feelings, will, intellect). We are supposed to feel anguish for the guilt of sin in our lives, and then follow those feelings by action- changing our lives. It’s not good enough to just be sorry; we need to make practical steps to change. That is what God wants, and David knew that.
After the broken spirit and broken/ contrite heart David continues with THEN, God, you will be pleased with the good I do and the sacrifices I bring. Not the other way around. David seeks God to forgive him, erase his sins, and to change his heart into a new, clean heart instead of the old sinful self serving one. We should seek the Lord for the same thing- with humility and brokenness; for we are nothing without Him, and we cannot be forgiven without Him for we are condemned by our own guilt. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)