July 13, 2021
Scripture: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
Observation: When we understand the context of this penitential psalm of King David, penned after his trusted friend and prophet, Nathan, exposed his sins of adultery and murder, we grasp the intensity and sincerity of his confession. In verses 3 and 4, David cries out to the Father that his transgressions are constantly flooding his mind and that he knows that he has sinned against his Lord. He cannot bear the burden of separation and pleads to his Redeemer to cleanse him of sin and restore his joy. Finally, he asks the Lord to keep him on track.
Takeaway: These verses bring to my mind the Keith Green song, Create in Me a Clean Heart. We sang it in churches during the ’80s and ’90s until contemporary praise music came on to the scene. Keith was a talented musician who sought to bring glory to God and lead others closer to Christ. Even so, he was not naive about the extent of sin that pervaded his mind and heart. But like David, he was also captivated by his Redeemer. Keith even more so knew the lavish grace of God through Christ, who bore the sins of the world in his body and for a moment in time experienced excruciating separation from the Father for our sake. And with grace upon grace, his Spirit upholds a right spirit in us.
Prayer: Father God, deepen our understanding of your Son’s amazing grace that has triumphed over our sinful hearts and is cleansing, renewing, restoring, and upholding a willing spirit in us. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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