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A Devotional Exposition
of Psalm 51

by Son Nguyen

1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.

6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

19. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."

*       We appeal to God on the basis of His lovingkindness and tender mercies, not on our hurt/need or the hurt/need of others.

"Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

*       Before we take actions to correct any "damage" we think may have done, be sure to get God to purge the crud in our hearts first or we'll end up complicating things even more because we don't have the proper vertical perspective.

"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight."

*       Our 1st concern, no matter how grievous or dire or sad or whatever we or the other persons are experiencing, is getting hold of God and look straight at His holiness.  Everything else can be put off till this is done and He has responded back to us.  Better yet, we can rest knowing that while we're going to Him, He will make everything else to work out right.  God is always at work for His children. *       Worry not what anyone else says about us for now.  If God does not condemn us, then cease from devoting attention to what we think others may say about us.  In fact, rejoice greatly and take heart that we have followed God's leading.  Unfounded fears and doubts are sins for that is the way the devil gets at us.

"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

*       Make sure we are entrenched and firm with God in His truth for us on the inside before we interface with the people who we have to deal with. Ask the Lord Jesus for wisdom and He will give it to us abundantly.  But 1st ask, before act.  Emotions are tricky things - they may make us look righteous and compassionate (according to our own eyes) but may end up hurting others more and making us to waver from the path that God wants us to enter.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

*       We all need a daily renewal of our spirit.  Discard everything (good and bad) and run hard to Jesus afresh.

"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.... Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

*       The best thing for anyone to experience is to be broken by the Lord Himself.  A man who seeks after God's own heart knows this and is glad for it. *       Ask for His joy to be upon us.  True joy and gladness must come the Lord Himself.  They do not come from fixing our deficiencies/mistakes and patching things up.

"Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."

*       Only after getting the vertical right, THEN we will move out and act, or not act, according His Spirit leading (EXO 33:13-15).

"Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness."

*       Are we reflecting His characters (which require a clinging to His righteousness that is taught to us in the Word and manifested in Jesus) or are we more concerned with proving our own righteousness and displaying our own glory?


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