The Washing

Psalm 51 was written after David committed adultery.  David, the man “after God’s heart” messed up in a big way.  And this chapter describes what he goes through.  Let’s look at it together.

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.

David knew what he did was sin, and he knew that he served a God full of mercy, a Father with unfailing love.  He knew that even though he failed, God was faithful.

He also knew another characteristic of his Father – that he was compassionate.  So David calls on a merciful, compassionate God to forgive him for his huge sin.

Finally, David knew that God’s love would wash away all trace of the sin and make him clean.

I love this psalm. 

We’ve all sinned.

We’ve all messed up.

But do we all know what a loving God we serve, and that he is just waiting for us to ask for his mercy and compassion to forgive us?

If you’ve sinned, don’t wait another minute while you waste away in shame.  Simply pray the prayer written in this verse and receiving the washing that only He can give.