Cleanse me from my sin
Psalms 51:1-2 If you and I have sins for which we still feel great guilt, praying through Psalm 51 is a good start at asking God to forgive us.
Nathan the Prophet rebuking King David. Artist unknown.
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalms 51:1-2 NASB1995
We’re back to the Book of Psalms today, and this particular chapter begins with the title “A contrite sinner’s prayer for pardon”. This psalm was written by King David after being visited by the prophet Nathan, who spoke to David after the King had lusted after Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and then made sure that her husband Uriah the Hittite would killed in battle (2 Samuel chapters 11-12).
Historically, the prayer has been very popular with those who realize their sin and are praying for forgiveness. From Enduring Word:
James Montgomery Boice noted that this psalm has been long beloved by believers: “It was recited in full by Sir Thomas More and Lady Jane Grey when they were on the scaffold in the bloody days of Henry VIII and Queen Mary. William Carey, the great pioneer missionary to India, asked that it might be the text of his funeral sermon.”
“This great song, pulsating with the agony of a sin-stricken soul, helps us to understand the stupendous wonder of the everlasting mercy of our God.” (G. Campbell Morgan)
Why was David being so contrite? He had really sinned — murder, adultery, covering up his sin, and initially refusing to repent. Nathan the Prophet confronted him, resulting in David realizing the extent of his sins and praying for forgiveness. He had confessed to Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13), and was now pleading with God for mercy. David had seen the greatness of God’s compassion before, and was asking again for the same compassion.
Once again from Enduring Word comes this reassuring thought:
“Men are greatly terrified at the multitude of their sins, but here is a comfort — our God hath multitude of mercies. If our sins be in number as the hairs of our head, God’s mercies are as the stars of heaven.” (Symson, cited in Spurgeon)
Many of us, David included, often feel as if we have a long, detailed list of our sins that is written somewhere… if even it is just in our guilty minds. David knew that God was aware of every sin he had committed, so he’s begging the Lord to erase that list (“blot out my transgressions”) so that he may start over again with a clean accounting.
The word of God, as spoken to David through Nathan the Prophet, had shown the King just how stained with sin he was. By asking God to “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities,” David is admitting just how guilty of sin he was, how worthless the standard Hebrew rituals were, and how important it was for him to be cleansed of his sins.
David’s words show that he realized that even a ritual handwashing wasn’t going to clean up his sin. The Hebrew word used here for wash is כָּבַס (kāḇas), which describes washing clothing by trampling it with the feet or beating. David wanted his soul to be white as snow through the mercy of God.
James Tissot (1836-1902), French painter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In the last part of the second verse, David uses three different words to describe his offenses against God. The first is transgressions, which comes from the Hebrew פֶּשַׁע (pešaʿ), meaning a revolt or rebellion — in this case, against God. Iniquity is the second word, in Hebrew it is עָוֹן (ʿāôn), which is defined as perversity, depravity, and great guilt. The final word is sin. In Hebrew, the word חַטָּאָת (ḥaṭṭā'āṯ) means “an offense (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation” (from Strong’s Concordance).
Although David probably felt in his heart that he had sinned, it took Nathan’s rebuke to finally convict him of his offenses to the point that he would confess to God. Do you own up to your sins without the help of a friend or relative to point them out to you? We could all use a Nathan to rebuke us, even when our sins aren’t as great as those committed by David.
David knew just how much of a sinner he was, and Psalm 51 is his confession and plea for forgiveness. If you and I have sins for which we still feel great guilt, praying through Psalm 51 is a good start at asking God to forgive us.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Today’s prayer comes from Knowing Jesus:
Lord Jesus, it says in Your Word, examine Yourself to see it you are in the faith. Lord, I realise that this is not talking to unbelievers but to all of us who are Your children in Christ Jesus. Lord, help me to examine myself, and all that I am learning from You and Your Word, so that I truly may say with conviction, "I know in Whom I have believed and am walking in the path on which He has placed me."
Keep me also from critical thoughts of others, and prevent me Lord, from having a spirit of control, or by pretending to hold others accountable to You, when the beam in my own eye is greater than the speck that is in my brothers’ eye. Keep me humble before Your throne of grace.
Thank You for all my Christian friends and family. Keep us all walking close to You in the days that lie ahead. In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen.