Psalm 51

God said of King David that he was “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22).  Yet the Old Testament records David’s sexual encounter with Bathsheba the wife of one of his army officers. When she became pregnant, David called her husband  back from the battlefield to cover his sin, but  Uriah refused to sleep with his wife and returned to war. So David ordered the troops to be withdrawn leaving Uriah defenseless. Psalm 51 is the poignant story of David’s great remorse, his plea for forgiveness and his deep desire for God to create in him a clean heart.

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Have mercy on me, Oh my God
Because of your unfailing love;
Wash all evil away from me,
Forgiveness I need from above.

You are the One against whom I’ve sinned
I’ve done evil in your sight;
Sinful I’ve been from my mother’s womb
Doing wrong instead of right.

Cleanse me with hyssop, I want to be clean
Wash me till I’m whiter than snow;
Please hide you’re face from all my sins
Forgiveness I long to know.

Create in me a heart that is pure
Don’t take your spirit away;
Restore to me the joy of salvation
Make me willing to obey.

My deep desire is to teach transgressors
Of all your merciful ways;
So open my mouth to declare your goodness
My lips to sing your praise.

You take no delight in sacrifice,
Apart from a contrite heart;
My offering to you is a broken spirit
The desire from sin to depart