Scripture to Read: Psalm 51:1–2
God led David to write many of the Psalms, and Psalm 51 is no exception. God had sent Nathan, the prophet, to lovingly rebuke David for David’s sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba. As David’s heart was broken over his sin, he was led by our Lord to write Psalm 51. The beauty of Psalm 51 is that much of what David asked for has been completely fulfilled through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, as we unpack Psalm 51, be careful not to miss what God has done for each one of us through our Lord Jesus Christ. God had David start by writing in Psalm 51:1–2, “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” David's heaviness from his sin is seen in these first two verses. David was pleading for God’s rich mercy based on God’s incredible love. What a blessing we have, through Christ, of fully experiencing God’s rich mercy every day. We know we have His mercy because God tells us this in Ephesians 2:4–5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” David knew of God’s love and even had God the Holy Spirit come upon him during His life. But David could only long for what Christ has given us since Christ was still to come.
Challenge & Application
· How have you experienced the fullness of God’s mercy and forgiveness in your life?
· Why do we, as Christians, have God’s rich mercy and the fullness of His forgiveness every day? (Also see Colossians 2:13–14.)
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!