Psalm 51:1-4

1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,

And my sin is ever before me.

4 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.

Yesterday we saw how one decision outside of the will of God can start a downward spiral that results in actions and attitudes that we would never think possible. David sinned greatly and tried desperately to cover up his sin. He found out that the first part of Proverbs 28:13 is true.

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper”

After God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him, David then shows us what real, genuine, biblical repentance looks like in Psalm 51.

Notice in these first four verses something vitally necessary if one is to be truly repentant.

If you count the times David refers to himself, you will find that it is 11 times in just 4 verses!!

Why is that important? Because he is taking full and complete responsibility for his own sin.

That is the first step of getting right with God. Even though Bathsheba was bathing on her roof, knowing that she could be seen from above, David NEVER even mentioned her name!

True repentance takes 100% responsibility for one’s sin, no excuses, no trying to share blame with anyone else.

When true repentance takes place, notice the results;

Psalm 32:1-5

1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered!

2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away

Through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.

5 I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I did not hide;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;

And You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Wow!! we have seen David go from sinning greatly in 2 Samuel 11, to trying to cover up his sin, to confessing his sin to God and repenting of that sin in Psalm 51 and seeing the joyful results in Psalm 32.

David was able to experience the other half of Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

BUT he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

HALLELUJAH

The sooner sin is confessed to God and repented of and forsaken, the sooner fellowship with God and joy in our lives is restored.