October 31, 2004

THE JOY OF FORGIVENESS

(Psalm 51)

...As a young boy, Saturday evening was the time for my weekly bath and hair washing.  Mom would line us up

   at the kitchen sink and wash our _hair__ until it was “squeaky clean.”

...Our hearts, infinitely more important than our bodies, desperately need cleaning.  We are born sinners and in time we sin.  Forgiveness and cleansing is such a wonderful thing.  It produces __joy__ in our lives.

...David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.  He further compounded his sin by having her husband

   _killed__.  It is in the midst of this dark background that Psalm 51 is written.  David continued in his sin

   for one year, until God sent Nathan to confront him.  David confessed his sin and found restoration.

TWO GREAT NEEDS WE HAVE AS SINNERS

WHICH MAGNIFY THE  __MERCY___  OF GOD.

I.    WE, LIKE DAVID, MUST RECEIVE  __PARDON___  FOR OUR SIN. (vv 1-9)

       ...Forgiveness and cleansing is our great need!

            A. David begins this by _crying__ out to God for His mercy. (vv 1-2)

                        1. This is a fierce, almost desperate clinging to God’s mercy.

                        2. _Mercy__ is the only basis of any approach to God by sinners.

                        3. David is profoundly aware of his sin and its true nature.

                                    a. “Transgressions”: Crossing a known _boundary__.

                                    b. “Iniquity”: Perversion.

                                    c. “Sin”: To fall short.

                        4. David pleads for the Lord to:

                                    a. “Blot out”: Rub out papyrus sheet.

                                    b. “__Wash___”: As a _filthy__ garment.

                                    c. “Cleanse me”: Make me clean in your sight.

            B. David confesses his sin. (vv 3-6)

                        1. “I am aware of my sin.” (v 3)

                        2. “I know it is sin.” (v 4)  His sin was preeminently against __God___.

                        3. “I confess that sin springs from my thoroughly evil nature.” (v 5)  His sin was not a

                             _rare__ aberration, it sprang from what he is.

            C. David asks the Lord for cleansing. (vv 7-9)

                        1. “Cleanse me” means to “_un__ - __sin__” me.

                        2. “Hyssop” (Ex 12:22) was the small brush which was dipped into blood and used to sprinkle

                            the blood.  David means, cleanse me by the blood, forgive me and regard me as cleansed on

                            the basis of the _innocent_ victim that has died.

II.    WE, LIKE DAVID, MUST RECEIVE A  __PURE___  HEART. (vv 10-19)

         ...For our old hearts are the __source___ of our sin problem.

            A. David expresses his desire for inward (heart) renewal. (vv 10-12)

                 ...Forgiveness alone was _not___ enough.

                        1. “Create a pure heart.”  “Bara”  (Gen 1:1)  This describes __only___ what God can do.

                        2. “Do not cast me away.”  God must sustain him, or he might fall again.

                        3. “Restore the joy of your salvation.” (v 12)

                                    1. Not: Restore “my salvation.”

                                    2. As long as he was living in sin he had no _joy___.  His fellowship with God

                                        was broken.

                                    3. How relevant to our day which thinks godliness is _dull__ and that the way to

                                        a good time is by sinning.  Sin brings _sorrow___, righteousness brings rejoicing.

            B. David, now restored, desires to help _others__ who were like he was. (vv 13-17)

                 ...He desires to teach them that our merciful God forgives if we come to Him with

                     a “broken spirit.” (v 17)

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:

1. If you have never been saved, the door of having your sin forgiven is open.

2. As a believer, keep your sin list short through daily confession and repentance of sin.

3. Sin brings loss.

4. After cleansing from sin, we like David, are again useful to God.

5. A humble heart is what pleases the Lord.