Sometimes sin is subtle – the hateful thoughts and words or the proud complacency that Psalm 50 condemns. Sometimes sin is lustful and violent, as was David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the consequent murder of her husband Uriah. But however we may have sinned, Psalm 51 gives us a model of how to deal with it in prayer.

And pray we must. For there’s no way we can straighten ourselves out in our own strength. Instead, we need to confess that we’ve been sinners from birth (verse 5), that our natural tendency is to pull away from God and away from other people, to focus on getting what we want instead of on God’s glory and the good of others. And there’s no sacrifice we can offer (verse 16), no ritual we can perform that will solve this sickness of the heart.

So we need to be honest about our sin, both with ourselves (verse 3) and with God. After all, whenever we break God’s perfect law of love, we are actually rebelling against Him, saying that we know better than He does, setting ourselves up as the ultimate authority of right and wrong. No matter who else we may hurt by our words or deeds, whenever we sin, we sin against God (verse 4).

And so, just as David did after his greatest sin, we need to come to God not with excuses or self-justification, but with a broken and a contrite heart (verse 17). And we need to ask God to cleanse us, to give us clean hearts and steadfast spirits (verse 10). And in order for Him to do this, we must be washed, not with the blood of sacrificial animals, but with the blood of Christ Himself (verse 7). He alone has the power to restore us to a right relationship with God, and to give us the joyful obedience that always flows out of such closeness to Him (verse 12).

So, no matter how we’ve sinned, no matter what we’ve done or left undone, let us pray.

Psalm 51 (NASB)

For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.
9 Hide Thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Thy presence, And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise.
16 For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
18 By Thy favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then Thou wilt delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Thine altar.