Create In Me A Clean Heart, O God

Check out audio version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoOgeJECQPY&t=5s

3-17-24

Hoonah-Hadley

Psalm 51:1-12

Call to Worship Jeremiah 31:31-34

Daily Verse Psalm 51:10

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God. And put a new and right spirit within me.” (RSV) Should we be at a loss as to how we might pray, God’s word is tried, tested and true.  There are nearly endless opportunities throughout scriptures, but the Psalms are a sure foundation that cover all the bases of a heart that longs and thirst for a better way, a higher way.  In all honesty, I pray this verse every day and have for years, every single day, sometimes several times.  When it comes to the heart, we don’t need to cross the street or go next door to clean house, the journey begins within.  Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.”  God’s word reveals the common bond we share with humanity across the board, some more, some less, no matter, we’re all in need of a scrubbing within from our Master.  Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.”  That pretty much covers it.  All that is left for us dear brothers and sisters is sack cloth and ashes, sack cloth and ashes.  This Psalm is credited to King David on the occasion Nathan the prophet went to him concerning the Bathsheba incident. “There is nothing hidden that won’t be revealed” (Luke 8:17) In fact, this Psalm of David is addressed “To the chief Musicians”.  Not for private use but for public service in song.  A psalm in its simplest form is a “sacred song.”  David himself was a gifted musician, but on this occasion, his day at the beach became headline news, the subject of public song. 

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You want drama, soap opera stuff? Imagine your sin being recorded in the best-selling book ever and read by millions for thousands of years.  Headline news, and not for shameful finger pointing, but among the greatest lessons on prayer and repentance. Vs. 1 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”  Let us consider for a moment the context of these verses.  David was a man of passion, a soldier, a king, having power, gifted in many ways.  God sent him out to war day after day, night after night, year after year, a mighty warrior was he.  It’s not unusual for us to take a day off from our labors, rest is part of Gods economy.  And so it was with David, after all, he’s the king, so he gives himself the day off when God told him to go to work.  When God tells us to do a thing and we think we know better, that’s the beginning of the proverbial bad day getting worse.  Anybody?  In his idle wandering he notices the neighbor. 2 Samuel 11:2 “…and from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” It is not wrong to see a thing, to notice it, whatever it may be, and acknowledge it for what it is, no error there. But notice the downward progression of an idle mind. Vs. 3 “So David sent and inquired about the woman.”  Observation to inquiring is a natural progression that goes both ways.  Ladies, don’t tell me Agent 007 didn’t raise your eye brawls?  Vs. 4 “Then David sent messengers and took her.”  In summary, she gets pregnant, David arranges for her husband to go to the front lines where he is killed, the child is born, become ill and dies. Vs. 27 “But the thing that David had done, displeased the Lord.”  David confesses to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”  Part and parcel the result of this story is Psalm 51, often referred to as “The Sinners Guide”, compelling us to seek God’s mercy.

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Our title could have very well been “Repent”, for this is exactly what the King is doing. Revelation 2:5 “Remember…from where you have fallen; repent…”  Repent: to change your mind, to feel remorse or regret.  Repentance is born from our fallen nature, the recognition of the error of our way, our genetic disposition of being conceived in sin. Though our sins are many, the “multitude of Your tender mercies” far exceeds them. Why are His mercies new every day? Because they need to be. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Because of His mercy we are not consumed.  David understanding his desperate situation, comes to the only one that can save him from being consumed by the consumer Himself.  Yes, God is merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love, but, He is also a jealous, wrathful, unquenchable fire. (Deut. 4:24-28, Heb. 12:29, Rom. 1:18) In fact Romans 1:20 concludes: “…so that they are without excuse.”  King David understands he cannot pawn off his sin on some lame, shallow, finger pointing excuse in the presence of the Almighty, all knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful God, nor can we, consider your ways. (Haggai 1:5-7, Psalm 119:59) Let us just say this about our sin and Gods mercy, it is not some flippant, casual conversation we are having at the club selling lottery tickets as a fundraiser. No this is a matter of being consumed or not consumed, saved, or cast into utter darkness. True repentance is something that happens at the very core of our soul, our character, our personality, our heart, and mind.  It is changing the way we think, the way we act, the way we see, the way we speak.  It is setting our filthy rags at the curb for the garbage truck and begging God to wash us from our iniquity, cleanse us from our sin. (Psalm 51:2) Vs.3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” We can run but we can’t hide. “Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” God knows. 

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David’s transgression becomes our road to salvation. It is the guide, the textbook, the map, the way to our eternal dwelling.  Step by step he spells it out for us. Acknowledgement opens the door that sin closes.  Nathan says to David, “You are the man!” Right away, the Holy Spirit convicts him, his reply: “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Sam. 12:13) David is being transformed by the renewing of his mind, by prayer and petition, acknowledgement, and confession.  Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” This is a recognition that sin is not confined to a single occurrence, specific, or limited to one area of our lives. We are by nature, sinners. One church has the correct sign out front, it’s between Grove City and Emlenton, it reads, “The Sinners Sanctuary Church”.  When God said His Son died for all, we can raise our hands, acknowledge our transgressions, and join the parade. As we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week, we see the road to Calvary is paved with the proverbial bricks, one of which has our name on it. Vs. 6 “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts.” John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth…’”  King David is leading us to the Truth. Numbers 32:23 “…be sure your sin will find you out.”  It’s who God is, it is what He does, we cannot flee from His Spirit. (See Psalm 139) Verses 7 and 8 “Purge me…wash me…make me…” This is sincere repentance. Verse 10 “Create in me…” The old nature is hopeless, bury it. God does not convict us of sin to destroy us, but to heal us, to bring us to Himself.  Once David’s son dies, he rises from the ashes, changes cloths, goes to church and worships God. And so it is with our sin, we recognize our nature, acknowledge it, confess it, and have its funeral. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.” Rise from your ashes, come to the Truth and He will set you free.

Amen!