“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” Psalm 51:1-12 NLT
O God,
Have mercy on me. Blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean. Purify me. These words we believe David wrote at the time of 2 Samuel 12. He wrote them after Nathan had confronted him over his adultery with Bathsheba and arranging Uriah’s death.
Sometimes when I read passages such as this I think I am not as bad as that. But I fool nobody but myself and only for a moment. I know I can think murderous thoughts. I have done and said many things I am ashamed of. I am a sinner. And my prayer was and still is the same as David’s. Have mercy on me. Blot out the stain of my sin. Wash me clean. Purify me. And You do.
And my prayer for the future is as David’s was, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.“
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 4th May 2025
Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord
And take not Thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me
Lyrics: Keith Green Psalm 51