stephen R Harrison

“A Clean Heart”

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

–Psalm 51:10

If there was one phrase I often heard as a kid, it was “Clean your room”. Having a clean room was one of my mom’s most required chores. I learned “shortcuts” to finish this task faster. There were specific compartments where I would hide things instead of putting them away where they belonged. I would shove stuff under my bed, in my closet, in drawers, and even behind my door. While I used these “slick” moves to make my room appear clean, I never could fool my mom. She knew all the tricks. Honestly, it would take me longer to do it wrong, get caught, and then clean my room than to do it right the first time. It usually led to even more trouble!

When cleaning our hearts, there’s only one method to “put everything where it belongs”. Repentance is how we take our messy lives wrapped up in sin to the Lord. But how often have we tried to care for our sins differently instead of allowing the Lord to clean our hearts? We’ve “swept them under the rug” and “hid them”, hoping they would go unnoticed. The only way to deal with sin is to ask the Lord to give you a clean heart through repentance.

David knew this, but it took him several months to write Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart”. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed Uriah, her husband (2 Samuel 11). He waited until after the son he and Bathsheba conceived died just after birth to repent – perhaps eight or nine months. It wasn’t until Nathan confronted him that David said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). David couldn’t fool God. He knew David’s sins and was gracious, patient, and merciful until David repented.

David didn’t instantly repent after his sin, but he could have. Because of Jesus, we have the instant ability to approach God and receive forgiveness. After David repented of his sins of murder and adultery, he wrote Psalm 51. In it, he prayed for God’s most significant attributes to be extended to him: mercy, love, and compassion (51:1). I’m sure he had experienced shame, heaviness, and guilt.  He asked the Lord to do what no one else could: “wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (51:2). David owned up to his sins, using the word “my” before “transgressions, sins, and iniquity” (51:2-3). He said, “Against you and you alone have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (51:4). Can you imagine the relief David received? Throughout the Psalm, David asked for joy, gladness, forgiveness, a clean heart, the Lord’s presence, the Spirit’s fullness, the opportunity to teach others to avoid sin, a broken spirit, and a contrite heart. This was a repentant man. This was the way to a clean heart, away from sin, and to the Lord’s presence. 

Questions: 

Why do we avoid, delay, or attempt to replace repentance?

Are there sins from which you need to repent? 

What does Psalm 51 say we receive through repentance?

Prayer:

Jesus, forgive us our sins. Give us a clean heart. Help us repent when we are convicted and confronted by your Spirit. Please keep us in your presence and in step with your Spirit. Give us a broken spirit and a contrite heart. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Read: 

Psalm 51:1-17

Action Step:

What other Psalms discuss sin, repentance, and forgiveness?