David’s Song of Repentance David: A Man after God’s Own Heart Series [26] Psalm 51:1-19 © October 8, 2017 Pastor Paul K. Kim 2

AN OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND OF PSALM 51 Its superscript reveals the context of this psalm as 2 Samuel 11-12 [David’s adultery with Bathsheba & cover-up with lies/murder of Uriah]. Its content shows David’s truly repentant heart when he responded to Nathan’s confrontation with “I have sinned against the LORD.” Its intensity for repentance is as thorough as his heinous sins, which provides an example to follow in true repentance. Its key lesson teaches us how we too can experience God’s forgiveness and restoration as Christ-followers.

It is a bush burning with fire yet not consumed, and out of it a voice seemed to cry to me, “Draw not nigh hither, put off thy shoes from off thy feet.” The psalm is very human, its cries and sobs are of one born of woman; but it is freighted with an inspiration all divine, as if the Great Father were putting words into his child’s mouth. Such a psalm may be wept over, absorbed into the soul, and exhaled again in devotion; but, commented on—ah! where is he who having attempted it can do other than blush at his defeat? Charles H. Spurgeon

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 1) True repentance requires A SINCERE CONFESSION of our sins (vs. 1-4). 1 Have mercy on me, O God,     according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy     blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,     and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions,     and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned     and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words     and blameless in your judgment. (vs. 1-4)

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 1) True repentance requires A SINCERE CONFESSION of our sins (vs. 1-4). 1 Have mercy on me, O God,     according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy     blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,     and cleanse me from my sin! (vs. 1-2) In his sincere and confession, David uses three different words for his sin: (1) “transgression” (= crossing the line), (2) “iniquity” (inner wickedness), and (3) “sin” (= falling short of the glory of God).

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 1) True repentance requires A SINCERE CONFESSION of our sins (vs. 1-4). 3 For I know my transgressions,     and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned     and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words     and blameless in your judgment. (vs. 3-4) In his sincere and confession, David uses three different words for his sin: (1) “transgression” (= crossing the line), (2) “iniquity” (inner wickedness), and (3) “sin” (= falling short of the glory of God). Yet for God, he uses these two words: (1) “justified” and (2) “blameless”. This is the very reason why David clings to God’s mercy and grace (hesed) for forgiveness and restoration-–without rationalization/minimization.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 2) True repentance requires A DEEP REALIZATION of our need for a cleansed heart (vs. 5-9). 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,     and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,     and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;     wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness;     let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins,     and blot out all my iniquities. (vs. 5-9)

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 2) True repentance requires A DEEP REALIZATION of our need for a cleansed heart (vs. 5-9). 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,     and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,     and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (vs. 5-6) David’s confession is not only for external wrong doings but also for his wicked sinful heart—admitting that he is a sinner who sinned against God. In so doing, he knows what God desires—the truth in the inward being.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 2) True repentance requires A DEEP REALIZATION of our need for a cleansed heart (vs. 5-9). 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;     wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness;     let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins,     and blot out all my iniquities. (vs. 7-9) David’s confession is not only for external wrong doings but also for his wicked sinful heart—admitting that he is a sinner who sinned against God. In so doing, he knows what God desires—the truth in the inward being. Therefore, his plea is not just for forgiveness of his sins but also inner cleansing of his sinful heart.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 3) True repentance leads us to FORGIVENESS & RESTORATION BY GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY (vs. 10-13). 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,     and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence,     and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,     and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,     and sinners will return to you. (vs. 10-13)

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 3) True repentance leads us to FORGIVENESS & RESTORATION BY GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY (vs. 10-13). 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,     and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence,     and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (vs. 10-11) Notice the words, “create in me” not “improve me”. His desire and hope is God’s restoration of his spirit by grace. The essence of this restoration is his relationship with God—more precisely his broken fellowship with God.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 3) True repentance leads us to FORGIVENESS & RESTORATION BY GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY (vs. 10-13). 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,     and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,     and sinners will return to you. (vs. 10-13) Notice that David didn’t say, “restore to me your salvation”—but “restore to me the JOY of your salvation,” which means fellowship/intimacy w/ God. Why? We do not lose our relationship (salvation) with God when believers sin but fellowship is broken. This restoration teaches us God’s righteous ways—and why sin is violent assault on God’s character.

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 4) True repentance leads us to HEARTFELT PRAISE & INTERCESSION (vs. 14-19). \ 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,     O God of my salvation,     and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips,     and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;     you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;  a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (vs. 14-17)

REQUIREMENTS AND RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE 4) True repentance leads us to HEARTFELT PRAISE & INTERCESSION (vs. 14-19). 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;     build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,     in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;     then bulls will be offered on your altar. (vs. 18-19) A natural fruit of true repentance is twofold: (1) restoration of our relationship with God and (2) restoration of our relationship with others. A heartfelt praise will flow out of our lips—God receives the glory! A heart intercession will flow out of our prayers!

RECAP & APPLICATION: TRUE REPENTANCE AND RESTORATION True repentance requires A SINCERE CONFESSION of our own sins. True repentance requires A DEEP REALIZATION of our own need for a cleansed heart. True repentance leads us to FORGIVENESS & RESTORATION BY GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY. True repentance leads us to HEARTFELT PRAISE & INTERCESSION. Therefore, live a life of confession (true repentance): Confess ALL of your known sins to God—do NOT carry them any longer. Commit to God the truth in your inward being—to be cleansed from inside out. Desire and know that you too can experience God’s forgiveness and restoration by grace TODAY. Praise God and pray for others because of God’s forgiveness & restoration!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Behold, You Delight in the Truth in the Inward Being Behold. Here is the great matter for consideration. God desires not merely outward virtue, but inward purity, and the penitent's sense of sin is greatly deepened as with astonishment he discovers this truth, and how far he is from satisfying the divine demand. The second "Behold" is fitly set over against the first; how great the gulf which yawns between them! Thou desirest truth in the inward parts. Reality, sincerity, true holiness, heart fidelity, these are the demands of God. He cares not for the pretense of purity, he looks to the mind, heart, and soul. Always has the Holy One of Israel estimated men by their inner nature, and not by their outward professions; to him the inward is as visible as the outward, and he rightly judges that the essential character of an action lies in the motive of him who works it. — Charles H. Spurgeon

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE In what ways will you seek true repentance and restoration—without delaying it any longer? What would it mean for you to sincerely desire a cleansed heart—beyond outward changes in your deeds and words? How will you trust for that? What is your first step toward responding to God’s forgiveness and restoration with a heartfelt praise and intercession?