Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 51
1 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.
1 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.
Commentary:
51:1–2 Have Mercy on Me. The psalm opens with an appeal to God for forgiveness. The terms mercy and steadfast love, as well as transgressions, iniquity, and sin, all evoke God’s proclamation of his own name (Ex. 34:6–7), with its focus on his grace and kindness. The plea for mercy here is a humble one, based entirely on God’s mercy, frankly recognizing that the worshiper does not deserve it. The terms wash (cf. Ex. 19:10) and cleanse (cf. Num. 19:19) come from the ceremonial system, where they refer to rites that allow a person to come safely into God’s presence. Here the psalm focuses on the inner condition that the ceremony points to.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 999.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 999.
Questions:
- After being confronted with his own sin and guilt, the first words out of David's mouth were for the Lord to have mercy on him. He cries out for God to give him grace, not what he deserved. But he wasn't asking God to let him slide. He is asking for God to show mercy because of who God is...His character... because of HIS unfailing love. A heart of REPENTANCE reflects RELATIONSHIP. David is saying, "I know I've messed this up, but I also know who you are! You are my only hope!" David comes to God in brokenness, not fear. When was the last time you were truly broken over your own sin?
- 1 John 4 talks about how much God loves us and how we can and should put our trust in that love. It says that His love is perfect and it drives out all fear. It says that if we are afraid of punishment then we haven't fully experienced his perfect love. David has such a close relationship with God and knows Him so well that he comes straight to God with a heart of repentance. Not fear. Not guilt. Not shame. How might these responses drive us further from our Heavenly Father? When you mess up, what is your tendency when it comes to God? Do you run to Him or from Him?
Pray:
- That God would break your heart over your sin.
- That God would show you how to respond to Him in moments of failure and weakness.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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