Psalm 51:1 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar."
Keys to forgiveness are embedded in this psalm. It's the Old Testament equivalent to the Lord's Prayer.
1) God is loving.
2) God is merciful.
3) David confesses his sin.
4) David knows that God can cleanse him
5) David confesses that he's a sinner and that his sin is his responsibility.
6) David admitted that he sinned against God and only God.
7) David acknowledges that God has the right to judge him.
8) David recognized that he is a sinner born in sin.
9) David acknowledged that he was conceived in sin. (Meaning that from the time he was conceived sin was his destiny).
10) David knows that God desires an inward truth. One must confess even sins unknown to others.
11) Wisdom is searching the heart for wrong and coming to terms that we are indeed are evil.
12) God can purge sin and make the sinner clean.
13) David knows that the sorrow he feels is of the Spirit of God.
14) David asks for joy and gladness to be restored. (This implies he's has guilt and desires to deal with it).
15) David asks that his murder of another be forgiven.
16) David acknowledges God's authority to save.
17) David makes a covenant with God to praise him when he's forgiven.
18) David asks God to empower him to praise God.
19) David knows that God doesn't seek a sacrifice of anything, but self.
20) The sacrifice of self is a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
21) God desires true introspection.
22) David asks God to do good for his kingdom with his own timing.
23) Then after honest introspection and confession God will again be please with sacrifices.
For anyone who sins, this is a sinners prayer! That means his a prayer for all of us. We're not all murderers, etc., but if we confess our rebellion, we'll find that our hearts are much different than David's. This is my prayer right now. It's an ongoing prayer because as each day proceeds we fail God. If we "keep on top" of our sins and continually ask forgiveness with a sincere heart, God is merciful!
For those who've tried to "clean up their act" before they seek salvation, this is your roadmap. Take that road less traveled. Thanks, David!
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