Comment on a Psalm

This Sunday we will be reading the familiar Psalm 51. This is David's response to God when Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. Here are some things to notice.

David does not minimize his sin. That is something that is so easy to do. But David doesn't fall for that trap. He is very clear about this. He fully acknowledges the evil of what he did.

But, having stated so forthrightly that he has sinned, do you see how bold he is to ask God to completely wipe it all away. David is asking for complete forgiveness of a bunch of heinous sins. How can he do this? David believes the Gospel. There is forgiveness with this God because of the sacrifice of another.

Knowing the grace of God, he then promises to spread to others the knowledge of that grace, the knowledge of that Gospel, and to praise of the God of that Gospel.

This is quite a Psalm. Is there something here that you need to spend some time meditating on? How are you doing at refusing to minimize your sin? How bold are you when it comes to asking for forgiveness? Then, of course, there is growing in understanding what it means that this forgiveness is because of the sacrifice of Another.

Your growth in these things will show as you, too, spread the knowledge of this Gospel and praise the God who offers it.