No Relief Like Repentance
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-13

Today’s Treasure: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:1-3).

Somewhere between confronting sin and restoring fellowship must come the bridge between those two vital works—contrite confession.  Psalm 51 gives us the blueprint for the bridge of confession fresh from the heart of a grieving king.  The note in the NIV specifies the psalm as written by David “when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.” 

This Psalm invites the vilest of sinners to drink from the fountains of forgiveness.  Consider these specific phrases from the first three verses.  Then join me in the following observations.

Verse 1: “Have mercy on me, O God.”  So great was David’s need for cleansing, so urgent his plea, that he began his prayer with no introduction and no high praises.  David knew experientially the teaching of Isaiah 59:2: “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." He recognized that until he had expressed repentance, words would be wasted.    

“According to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion.”  David knew his God was complex and multifaceted.  In his history with God, David had called on His sovereignty, His might, His deliverance, His intervention.  But at this moment, David called on the God of love and compassion.  Only on the basis of covenant love could David dare ask for mercy. 

Verse 2: “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”  Don’t miss the most important emphasis in this statement: the word all.  What a wonderful word!  The mercy of God is enough to cover all our sins.  Few things in life are as fresh and thrilling to me as that moment when I know God has heard my repentant cry and I am completely clean.

Are you able to accept that all your confessed and rejected sins have been completely forgiven?  If not, what do you think holds you back from God’s complete forgiveness?

Verse 3: “For I know my transgressions.”  The words prove David could not ignore his sins!  Are you in David’s position right now?  Are you carrying the weight of past sin?  Is the guilt and remorse more than you can bear?  Do you have a sin you can’t seem to give up?  You can’t live with it, but you can’t bring yourself to live without it?  Satan screams, “To give it up will be far more painful than living with the guilt!”  Refuse to hear another of Satan’s lies.  The freedom of Christ is worth the surrender of absolutely anything!  Relief, not remorse, awaits the repentant! 

God, thank You for the forgiveness You offer through Christ Jesus.  How glorious and complete it is!  Please help me confront sin and restore fellowship with You through sincere and swift repentance.  I pray to honor the sacrifice of Your Son’s life by believing that freedom from the bondage of sin is worth any surrender.  Thank You for the blessed relief of repentance.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Adapted from A Heart Like His, by Beth Moore, pages 192-193.  Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.  Used by permission.