My sacrifice is a broken spirit
Psalms 51:17 - God is totally ready to forgive and accept those who come to Him in genuine repentance.
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Psalms 51:17 NIV
David is one of the most beloved figures in the Bible, and if I had to venture why this is, it boils down to one thing: we all recognize that he was a sinner and yet God still loved him. Since the vast majority of us also fall into the category of sinners, we can relate to this shepherd boy turned king of Israel. David was an ancestor of Jesus (see Matthew 1:1-17 for the complete genealogy starting with Abraham), so God definitely had plans for David and those of his family line.
Some years after his misdeeds, David is rebuked by Nathan the Prophet for his adultery with Bathsheba (who is also an ancestor of Jesus - you can read the details in 2 Samuel 11 and 12) and is feeling very bad about his sins. Not only did he seduce Bathsheba, but he also set into motion events that would result in the death of her husband Uriah. So the Lord sent Nathan to confront David about his rather grievous sins, and to warn him that He is “going to bring calamity on you” (2 Samuel 12:11). That calamity includes having David’s other wives make love “in broad daylight” to a man close to the king, and having his first son by Bathsheba die!
After being confronted by Nathan, David confesses his sin and God chooses to have David live — 'Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord .” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. ' (2 Samuel 12:13). This is where Psalm 51 begins. 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)
It’s not too late for David. He has taken the first step and confessed his sins to the Lord, which is enough for Nathan to hear from God that David won’t suffer death for his sins.
In this verse, David follows the usual process in of atoning for his sins — he’s making a sacrifice. In ancient Israel, sacrifices of animals and food products were made at the altar as a central part of both atonement and worship. But here David realizes that God doesn’t want a ritual offering — He wants David to be transformed in his soul! David’s sacrifice is a “broken spirit”, showing both repentance and humility.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel points out that obedience and love for God are much more important than ceremonial acts — “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
David knows that God will accept his sacrifice, as a “broken and contrite heart” implies that he is deeply sorry for his sins and desires nothing more than reconciliation with God. This emotional state is at the heart of true repentance and reflects what Jesus called the Great Commandment (also part of the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6:5): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
God is totally ready to forgive and accept those who come to Him in genuine repentance — “you will not despise”. This is another example of how a promise of forgiveness and acceptance found in the Old Testament foretells the New Testament’s proclamation of grace through Jesus Christ, who epitomizes God’s mercy and offers redemption to all believers.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, as I study this psalm, it highlights the importance of a contrite spirit and broken, ashamed heart in confessing and repenting my sins. When I am truly humbled, I am ready to accept and develop the character of the Lord Jesus. I plead with You to show me where I have yet to submit to your leadership and guidance, so my life may become a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You. I ask this in the name of Jesus, AMEN.