Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”
David thought that his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba were secret. Nathan, the prophet, stops by and tells him a story of injustice. David gets indignant and orders death. Nathan says, “David, you are the man.”
It all falls apart. His secret is known. David is humiliated and in trouble. He comes to God and begs for mercy. We have all been there. Our sin has found us out. Our mistakes that we had hoped went unnoticed became known.
God knew all along. David should have known that. He was in a dark period in life. He wasn’t mindful of God. Otherwise, he would have been aware of The Lord. This is true of us. Most of us have enough knowledge of God to know that He knows all. We still stumble and sin.
David in his cry for mercy appeals to God’s “steadfast love”. We don’t deserve mercy. Yet, He wants to give it. His love for us is so great that He seeks opportunities to bless us. He is saddened when we stray. He will correct and discipline to get us back to the place where He can bless us.
Later in Psalm 51:10-12, David cries out for restoration. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” God in His mercy wants to restore us.
David prays another prayer in Psalm 25:7: “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.” We’ve all made mistakes that we would like not to be reminded of. David prays that God will forget those.
Lord, thank You for Your mercy. It restores and forgives. You are a great God.