Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
The Lord loves His children to come to Him with their needs and for the needs of others. But we must do it with a clean heart, pleading for God’s forgiveness, for our guilt, and the need to be restored in sweet fellowship with Him once again.
The Lord desires truth from His children (v.6) Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
No one can see what’s inside a heart; only God. Our actions, our speech and emotions let others have a glimpse of what we are about, but only God knows our real person or character hidden in this body of flesh.
In Psalm 51, David pleads with God; he knows what it’s like to be with and without God in his life. He knows the guilt and loneliness sin can cause to a soul that has fallen into temptation. He knows the ache in his heart of not having the joy of the Lord in his life. (v. 8) Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. It affected him physically, not that he literally had any broken bones, but that he was so distressed over his sin and being separated from the fellowship of God that his guilt was over whelming. (v.12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. David missed the joy that only comes from a close relationship with God; a relationship free from the obstacles of sin that hinder it.
David knew his life was not pleasing to God while he was living in sin. He also knew he could not be used of God to teach others as long as he was in this state. He knew that his sin was primarily against God, even though it involved others, even though it hurt others, even though it made others think differently towards him, even though this sin was ever before him; he knew he was the cause of the break in fellowship with God, and only God could cleanse him and restore that fellowship once again. (v.2) Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. David knew his sin was great and that it had had an impact on other lives. It involved lust, lying, infidelity, and killing of the innocent. His sins were many, yet he knew God could and would deliver him and that he once again would be used of God. (v. 13) Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Yes, even after all that his sin had caused and all David had done, he still knew he could be a vessel of great use in the potter’s hand; one that could help others in not making the same mistakes as he.
In Verse 1, David pleads for God’s lovingkindness, knowing God is always faithful in His love for his unfaithful people. David turned his back on His God, his kingdom, God’s people, and even himself. He knew God, because of His love, His covenant with His people; God would forgive and restore him back into fellowship once again.
In verses 1 and 2, David pleads for forgiveness.
In verses 3 – 6, He confesses his guilt.
In verses 7 – 12, He prays for pardon and restoration.
In verses 13 – 17, He resolves to praise God.
In verses 18 and 19, He prays for the continued prosperity of Jerusalem.
The desires David experienced were temporal, and only fed the flesh but for a moment. The real desire of his heart was to please God, to have fellowship with God, and to be a blessing to God and others. All else didn’t matter. True fulfillment in his life came through walking hand in hand with God; knowing the Lord was pleased with him, which only comes from a broken and contrite heart.
What has broken the fellowship between you and God, and what is holding you back at being used of Him?
We know when we’re not in fellowship with him, just as David knew. We have an ache in our heart and emptiness in our soul. First of all we have to admit we have done wrong, we have sinned against a Holy God.
1.We all are sinners. Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
2.This sin causes separation, death for us eternally. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death…And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 and 15.
3.We have to realize, we cannot save ourselves; we need help! Romans 3: 8 & 9 – But God commended his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
4. As David confessed his sin to God, and sought forgiveness, we too must confess ours and believe the only way to be right with God and brought into fellowship is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 10: 9 and 10 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
5.Once that takes place, the Bible says: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
6.Now does this mean we will never sin again…no, and if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…1John 1:8…but we have an advocate with the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:1 and 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
David was brought back into fellowship with the Father, we can be too and it all begins in the heart.
