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 So David ordered the troops to be withdrawn leaving Uriah defenseless.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.

       ​I beg for your mercy, O my God
       Based on your unfailing love;
       Blot out my transgression, wash evil away                         
       Forgiveness I need from above.
 
       It’s you, O Lord that I’ve sinned against             
       I did 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              
       Help me always to obey.

       You take no delight in sacrifice,                               
       But only in a contrite heart;                              
       So I sacrifice now my spirit so broken               
       Longing from sin to depart.   

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