They really are a series of very bold requests . . . especially considering that David had no right to ask for such things. We’re talking “busted” . . . found out . . . exposed . . . guilty as sin . . . literally! Kingly power compromised by unbridled passion . . . God’s favor leveraged for fleshly desires. And Nathan the prophet, David’s trusted advisor, nails him to the wall, “You are the man! You are the one who deserves to die! You are the rich man who steals the only sheep in the flock of a poor man . . . and then puts the poor man to death to cover your tracks!” (2Samuel 12). Like I said, “Busted!” And David gets it, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Not exactly the time you might think of going to God with a series of requests . . . but actually it was the perfect time.

Check out David’s list of requests in Psalm 51:

Have mercy on me, O God . . . Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity . . . Cleanse me from my sin . . . Purge me with hyssop . . . Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow . . . Let me hear joy and gladness . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God . . . Cast me not away from Your presence . . . Restore to me the joy of Your salvation . . . Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God . . . O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth with declare Your praise.

You got to know the enemy of our souls went nuts when David decided to get on the “down elevator” and pushed the “rock bottom” button. No doubt, David had crashed and burned big time . . . no minimizing his transgression . . . no rationalizing his sin . . . no way of reducing the size of offense he had committed against a thrice holy God. But you also know that, in addition to the remorse that had gripped David, there was another voice hissing in his ear, “It’s hopeless! Your hopeless!” You can hear the accuser . . . “Game, set, match, buddy! That’s it. You have so blown it . . . no going back now. Inexcusable. God is done with you . . . turned His back.” But David knew another voice . . . the whisper of grace . . . the sound of a Savior. So . . . though broken . . . though crushed . . . with his chest so heavy, he could barely breathe . . . he makes petition to His God . . . knowing it was the perfect time to do so.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.    (Psalm 51:17 ESV)

To be sure, David knew his sin . . . but David also knew His God. David realized how bankrupt he was . . . but also remembered the depths of the riches of the mercy and grace of the LORD. David had no place to turn . . . nowhere to go . . . nothing he could do to make up for his folly . . . but he knew his way to the mercy seat of God. And there, he made his requests known to God.

And I’m taken with wonder of the salvation that God has wrought for us Davids. The One who is just, is also the justifier of those who have placed their faith, who have staked their lives, on the sufficiency of the finished work of Christ on the cross. Because of the blood shed, I can dare ask to be washed thoroughly from my iniquity . . . cleansed from my sin . . . made whiter than snow in the enveloping righteousness of the Son of God. Because of the abiding Spirit, guaranteeing that God will complete the work He has begun in me, I can ask that He would continue to create a clean heart in me . . . that He would continue to invite me into His presence. Because His grace is greater than all my sin, I can bring the desires of my heart before His throne, asking to know once again the joy of my salvation . . . to once again know gladness . . . to have my lips opened so that my mouth might declare His praise.

I’m not looking to sin . . . not wanting to get so low that the only place to look is up . . . but I thank God that, when I do mess up and trip up, there is a means of restoration . . . a way back. For He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9). Mine is to confess . . . mine is to petition . . . mine is to know that, in such circumstance, it’s the perfect time to bring before Him a series of very bold requests.