Bible Study - Psalm 51
- Read Psalm 51
- The psalmist speaks with great passion and conviction. He has a
profound sense of his sins and knows that he has fallen far short of
God's perfect standard. His whole life has been, and is sinful. He
has been evil, from the day he was born. He realises that his sin bars
him from God's presence and knows that, without God, his life will
be wretched and meaningless.
- He does not deserve forgiveness, but he is confident that God is
loving and merciful and able to forgive his sins. He asks God to purge
his sins and wash away his evil. He knows that God's forgiveness
cannot be earned by making sacrifices. God wants genuine repentance, a
realisation of sin and rebellion against God, and a desire to live a
changed life.
- The psalmist doesn't just want God to forgive and cleanse him,
he also wants to be renewed and changed by God. He asks God to create
in him a pure heart and give him a new and loyal spirit, so that he
will want to obey God and share God's righteousness with others. He
knows that he will only be truly happy in God's presence.
- As he confessed his sins and sought God's forgiveness, the
psalmist was deadly serious; there was nothing half hearted about his
prayer to God. He saw himself with God's eyes, as wretched and
sinful, and deeply desired to be forgiven and renewed by God.
- Sin and rebellion against God spoil our relationship with Him, and
it is vital that we constantly ask for forgiveness and renewal if we
are to walk closely with our heavenly father.
- That is why the words of the confession are included in most of our
church services. They are very familiar to us and it is easy to say
them by rote and not really think about what we are saying. But if
they, and our own private prayers of confession, are to have any
meaning, we need to be prepared. We need to ask God to show us where we
are going wrong, to sincerely want to be forgiven and be prepared to be
changed by Him.
- To think about
- Are you aware of how much your sin/rebellion has grieved God and
affected your relationship with Him? Are you willing to be forgiven,
renewed and changed by God?
- Prayer
- Heavenly Father show me how I have gone wrong and rebelled against
you this week. Help me to seek your forgiveness and give me a deep
desire to be changed by you into the person you want me to be.
Amen.