It’s hard to skim Psalm 51. If one knows anything about the story of David and Bathsheba, then this psalm becomes alive as David pens these words to God fresh off of such hypocritical and murderous transgression. And even if its not read in the context of David’s story, the Spirit has way of reminding me that its my story. Not the sordid details necessarily . . . but the acknowledgment of sin against God . . . the realization that there is no offering I can give to clean away the stain of that sin . . . the desperation and absolute surrender to the grace of God as my only hope of knowing the joy of salvation. As I reflect upon it this morning, it resonates deep within. This is my story . . . this is my psalm . . .

David cries out to God. And brought to my attention are two insights about God. One, He desires truth in the inward being (v.6) . . . truth from the inside out. We can put a facade on before others . . . we can try and fake it before those around us . . . but God sees the heart . . . He knows the inner man. And it’s there that He looks for truth . . . it’s there that He tests faithfulness . . . it’s there that He evaluates reality. And it’s there that He sees any sin we may think we’re hiding. Kind of makes you feel exposed, doesn’t it?

The second thing about God I notice is that, while He desires truth in the innermost being, He does not desire sacrifice, nor does He delight in burnt offering (v.16). Religious adherence isn’t what God’s looking for. Going through the motions brings God no delight. That’s outward stuff . . . that’s the stuff masks are made of. No . . . again, as God is the God of the inner man, the sacrifices He’s looking for are the sacrifices of the inner man . . . a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart — these the Lord will not despise (v.17).

And it is in the context of what God desires . . . and what He doesn’t desire . . . that then, this Psalm really becomes about “me”. Check it out . . .

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin (v.2) . . . Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness (v.7,8a) . . . Create in a me a clean heart (v.10) . . . Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me (v.11) . . . Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit or, with a willing spirit (v.12) . . . Deliver me from the guilt (v.14)”

Sometimes, when it comes to the desperate need born out of sin, it is about “me, me, me!” When fellowship has been broken because we’ve ceded the battle to the flesh . . . or have been tripped up by the enemy . . . I need to prevail upon the “multitude of God’s tender mercies” and call upon Him to blot out my transgressions (v.1). Mine is to acknowledge my sin . . . to confess . . . to repent. His is to apply the blood of His precious Son . . . to recall the sacrifice born on my behalf . . . to forgive freely from the fountains of grace . . . to restore relationship.

And one more thing about this being a “me psalm”. When God has purged me . . . and washed me . . . and created in me . . . and restored in me . . . and delivered me . . . then, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise . . . my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness” (vv. 14b-15). I’ll sing of His righteousness . . . that thrice holy righteousness . . . imparted to me through the saving work of His blessed Son. My lips will be opened with the songs of praise and thanksgiving. My mouth will echo the wonders of the amazing grace of God that saved a wretch like me . . . and the amazing grace of God that is faithful and just to continue to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness if I will but confess our sins (1John 1:9).

This is my story . . . this is my psalm . . . praising my Savior . . . all the day long! Amen?