Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. – (Psalms 51:1 NKJV)

David—chosen by God, a man after God’s own heart—failed.  No question about it.  You know what he did?  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed (see 2 Samuel 11).  David’s story proves that God doesn’t use perfect people.  But because of His mercy and lovingkindness, He forgives us, cleanses us, and uses us to bring Him glory.

Because David’s heart was right, he knew he had to repent.  So, he writes Psalm 51, pleading with God to have mercy on him, to forgive him, to not leave him in his sin:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. (vv. 10-12 NKJV).

Psalm 51 is so wonderful because we see how God’s forgiveness is in the anointed one.  And that anointed one is Christ in you, the hope of glory!

When I read about David and some of these things that go on, it gives me hope for myself.  Granted, I’m not committing adultery and I’m not killing anyone, but sometimes I think or say things I shouldn’t.  I don’t do it all right all the time, and neither do you.  But remember, when we repent and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your loving-kindness.  Thank You for Your anointing in Christ Jesus that blots out all iniquities.  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!