Psalm 51: Prayer for Pardon
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12/07/08 AM
Text: Psalm 51:1-19
Introduction
Some of you may have recently received by way of email a picture from Marie Adams. It seems they have experienced the first dusting of snow at their new home in Arkansas. Now growing up in Tucson I only saw snow in the city maybe once every seven years, and it rarely lasted more than a day. And of course in the almost thirty years I’ve lived in San Diego I’ve not experienced local snowfall. But I have been in snow and one of my favorite photos is of a snow covered field with a winter barren tree in the background and a split-rail fence crossing the field. Printed on the picture are the words “Be still and know that I AM.” I can look at that picture and feel the calm and purity of the snow covered field. And that is something we associate with freshly fallen snow, purity.
There is just one problem with that concept. While the crystal formations of snowflakes are beautiful, they have many different shapes and sizes; all are different but have one common thread: dirty hearts. Snow crystals form around tiny bits of dirt that have been carried up into the atmosphere by the wind.
This means we are a bit like snowflakes because we also have dirty hearts. We stand at the peak of God’s creation; all are different but have a common thread - sin (Romans 5:12 (NASB) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned). Everyone is marked by sin, we all face the consequences of sinful actions, the dirty heart is the one thing we all have in common, and original sin follows and flows through every life.
But just as we have a common source of being cursed; we also have a common source for forgiveness and blessing.
I.Psalm 51
This psalm was written by a man after God’s own heart who "blew it" in a big way. He committed sins that you simply wouldn’t expect a good man to commit. And it wasn’t one of those cases where he accidentally committed a sin before he realized what was going on. No, he put a great deal of thought and effort into committing his sin, and then he went to even greater trouble to cover his sin. His actions were despicable and the outcome tragic. However, the most amazing fact about this story is that this didn’t ruin the man. He was able to recover from his mistakes and get back on his feet.
1. The "Prayer of a Penitent Sinner Psalm."
2. It tells how to get back on the right track with God. Getting back on track requires a:
II.Change of Heart v. 3-4
A. In Psalm 51:1-2, David begs forgiveness.
B. David was guilty and he knew it. He couldn’t deny his wrongdoing any longer. He could only confess to God and ask forgiveness.
1. This occurred following his confrontation with the prophet Nathan (Read 2 Samuel 12:1-12)
a. There is a lesson in Nathan’s approach for us to consider (Galatians 6:1a (NASB) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness)
2. Before Nathan, David lived as if he had done no wrong.
a. Proverbs 30:12 (NASB) There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
b. Parable of the Pharisee and Publican (Luke 18:9-14)
c. 1 John 1:8 (NASB) If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
C. We’re often just that way about our own sin. We try to justify it and pretend that it’s not so bad. We try to explain why it isn’t really sin.
1. We see this repeated in the headlines today with celebrities and star athletes.
2. As long as we keep this defiant attitude we can never get completely right with God. Getting right with God requires a change of heart.
D. The tough question, "Are you sorry you did it, or are you just sorry you got caught?" A change of heart means that we’re sorry we did it, regardless of who knows or doesn’t know about our sin
III.Change of Mind v. 4
A. We need to acknowledge and accept the rule of God in our lives. God had declared the actions of David as sin, unacceptable to a Holy God.
1. What was right was not what David felt was right. What was right was not what David as king said was right.
2. What was right was not what “everyone else” was doing or saying but what God said.
B. In accepting the rule of God we then accept responsibility for our actions.
1. It does no good to say, "I am a victim of my environment, or a victim of my circumstances, or a victim of genetics, or a victim of bad luck."
B. David accepted God’s judgment and took responsibility:
Psalms 51:4 (NASB) Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
D. David was saying, "I am responsible for my actions. I can’t blame anyone but myself." Getting back on track requires a change of heart, a change of mind, and a…
IV.Change of Direction
A. Proverbs 12:15 (NASB) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
1. David’s life got off track because he started doing things his way and going his own direction.
B. Realizing he couldn’t do it without God’s help, listen to his words: Read Psalm 51:7-12
1. (v. 7-12) Cleanse me…wash me…blot out all my iniquity…create in me a clean heart…renew a steadfast spirit within me.
2. We can mess things up on our own without anyone’s help, but it takes an act of God to get us back on track. Too often we are guilty of trying to clean ourselves up and make ourselves "good" so that we will be acceptable to God-and that is simply not acceptable to God!
a. Isaiah 64:6b (NASB) And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;
b. Mark 10:18 There is none good but God, and there is nothing good outside of God.
C. To repent means to change direction.
1. Getting back on track requires a change of direction-where we stop going our way and start going His way.
2. It requires that we:
a. Accept and obey the first commandment: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30)
b. We seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
(Matthew 6:33)
c. That we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. (Mark 8:34)
3. 1 John 1:9 (NASB) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Conclusion
David’s Pattern of Forgiveness
I. Realize our error: God is willing to forgive what we are willing to acknowledge. We base our standard for sin on the word of God; He alone judges what is right and what is wrong. When we transgress His will we acknowledge and accept responsibility in sorrow and humility.
II. Repent of our actions: God already knows our sins, He still is willing to forgive, we need to confess and seek His divine grace and goodness, He will wash us from our iniquity, and He will make us pure in His sight,
III. Request forgiveness and restoration of favor: We must be placed back into right relationship with God, this restores the divine favor and the blessings of God.
IV. Rejoice and give thanks: Forgiveness is an act of divine mercy and grace, the proper response is thanksgiving to God, we must thank Him for His grace and His love, we must offer praise for His works.
Invitation
1. Being a man/woman of God first requires becoming a child of God
a. If you believe in Christ, put on Christ in baptism.
b. Galatians 3:26 - 27 (NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
2. If you are not clothed in the righteousness of Christ, remember the pattern of David: God longs for you to come back! Do it now!
