IN ORDER…MY RESTORATION

PSALMS 32, 51, 86, 122

MAY 14th

Yesterday’s blog focused on David doing right with the wrong that he did regarding his sin with Bathsheba. Today’s readings in the Psalms show us the process that God used to restore David to the the man who once again was “after God’s own heart”.

Psalm 51 is written about the confrontation that David had with the Prophet Nathan when David finally confessed his sin.

Psalm 51.1-2

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.

What leads us to confess and repent of our sin, to do right with our wrong? The lovingkindness of God! He alone is merciful and understands our guilt, shame and the deception that sin causes us to believe. He is also our only hope of being cleansed from sin and restored to a heathy soul.

God opens our eyes to understand how He sees sin so we can understand sin’s affect on us:

    Transgressions- we have violated a boundary that God has set for us and in so doing we are guilty of breaking His law.

    Iniquity- a twistedness, a perversion in our nature that will always lead us away from God if left unchecked

    Sin- literally to miss the mark to fall short of God’s intended will for our lives

Once we see what our wrong truly is, sin then we can only look to God for forgiveness for it is ultimately against Him that we have done the wrong. 

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 [e]blameless when You judge.

Sin leaves an indelible mark on our souls that only God through the blood of Christ can cleanse. Listen to how David describes his cleansing that allowed him to be restored to godly man.

 "Blot out” my transgressions- Erase thoroughly, like a sentence in a book a mistake on a paper.

"Wash me" thoroughly from my iniquity- the original Hebrew word “trample” “wash” me. To wash properly, by stamping with the feet. A stain that needs heavy duty cycle washing.

"Cleanse me"from my sin -  The word literally means "Unsin" me Seeking a forgiveness so complete that the whole fact & issue of sin can be canceled.  As if it never happened at all.

"Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red as crimson, they shall be as white as wool" Isaiah 1:18

Looking back on this experience David write about the results of his cleansing in Psalm 32

1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those  whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone

“Heavenly Father today with your help I will acknowledge my sin to you. May I quickly come to you so guilt and shame will not leave stains on my soul that harm me and others in the circle of my life. I ask for the joy that comes from you when you have forgiven my sin, remember it no more and restore my soul.”