Psalms 51:1-12

“For David had done what was right in the eyes of the LORD and had not failed to keep any of the LORD's commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” (1 Kings 15:5)

If you're familiar with the story of Uriah the Hittite (found in 2 Samuel 11), you'll know that David's "exception" is no small thing. David arranged for Uriah's murder after impregnating Uriah's wife. Murder, lying, and adultery were all a part of this exception noted in 1 Kings 5:5.

We all have exceptions. Maybe not like David's, but we can have things in the past that haunt us. Things that we have done that we wish we had never done. And those things always result in the same thing: guilt.

Guilt is hard to shake, but it's not impossible.

You can't 'good work' your way out of guilt. Denial doesn't work, either. All human methods of dealing with guilt fail.

Psalm 51 is a model of repentance. It shows us that no matter the depth of our sins, God's justice and love can abound in our lives. No matter who we are, when we throw ourselves at God's mercy, we can be confident that God not only forgives us but restores us.

As you read Psalm 51, don't read it as if it's someone, far away, writing these words. Instead, use the words as a prayer for your own life. Throw yourself at the mercy of God and allow God to instill in you a 'pure heart.'