How You Need To Pray For Forgiveness Of Sin
King David, in psalm 51, has shown you and I how to cry unto God for forgiveness of our sins.
King David made us to know that God does not delight(or get excited) over burnt sacrifices of bull, cattle, fowl, etc, when we sin against Him; rather He requires our broken and contrite hearts(psalm 51:16-17).
According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary(a bible dictionary), contrite means to break or bruise; to rub or wear; broken-hearted for sin; deeply affected with grief and sorrow for having offended God; humble; penitent; as a contrite sinner.
Psalms 51:1-19
[For the choirmaster Of David When the prophet Nathan had come to him because he had gone to Bathsheba]
David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children return, but to the Lord their God, who alone can heal them? he drew up, by Divine teaching, an account of the workings of his heart toward God. Those that truly repent of their sins, will not be ashamed to own their repentance. Also, he instructs others what to do, and what to say. David had not only done much, but suffered much in the cause of God; yet he flees to God's infinite mercy, and depends upon that alone for pardon and peace. He begs the pardon of sin. The blood of Christ, sprinkled upon the conscience, blots out the transgression, and, having reconciled us to God, reconciles us to ourselves. The believer longs to have the whole debt of his sins blotted out, and every stain cleansed; he would be thoroughly washed from all his sins; but the hypocrite always has some secret reserve, and would have some favorite lust spared. David had such a deep sense of his sin, that he was continually thinking of it, with sorrow and shame. His sin was committed against God, whose truth we deny by wilful sin; with him we deal deceitfully. And the truly penitent will ever trace back the streams of actual sin to the fountain of original depravity. He confesses his original corruption. This is that foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child, that proneness to evil, and that backwardness to good, which is the burden of the regenerate, and the ruin of the unregenerate. He is encouraged, in his repentance, to hope that God would graciously accept him. Thou desirest truth in the inward part; to this God looks, in a returning sinner. Where there is truth, God will give wisdom. Those who sincerely endeavour to do their duty shall be taught their duty; but they will expect good only from Divine grace overcoming their corrupt nature.
Purge me with hyssop, with the blood of Christ applied to my soul by a lively faith, as the water of purification was sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop. The blood of Christ is called the blood of sprinkling, Hebrews 12:24. If this blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, cleanse us from our sin, then we shall be clean indeed, Hebrews 10:2. He asks not to be comforted, till he is first cleansed; if sin, the bitter root of sorrow, be taken away, he can pray in faith, Let me have a well-grounded peace, of thy creating, so that the bones broken by convictions may rejoice, may be comforted. Hide thy face from my sins; blot out all mine iniquities out of thy book; blot them out, as a cloud is blotted out and dispelled by the beams of the sun. And the believer desires renewal to holiness as much as the joy of salvation. David now saw, more than ever, what an unclean heart he had, and sadly laments it; but he sees it is not in his own power to amend it, and therefore begs God would create in him a clean heart. When the sinner feels this change is necessary, and reads the promise of God to that purpose, he begins to ask it. He knew he had by his sin grieved the Holy Spirit, and provoked him to withdraw. This he dreads more than anything. He prays that Divine comforts may be restored to him. When we give ourselves cause to doubt our interest in salvation, how can we expect the joy of it? This had made him weak; he prays, I am ready to fall, either into sin or into despair, therefore uphold me with thy Spirit. Thy Spirit is a free Spirit, a free Agent himself, working freely. And the more cheerful we are in our duty, the more constant we shall be to it. What is this but the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free, which is contrasted with the yoke of bondage? Galatians 5:1. It is the Spirit of adoption spoken to the heart. Those to whom God is the God of salvation, he will deliver from guilt; for the salvation he is the God of, is salvation from sin. We may therefore plead with him, Lord, thou art the God of my salvation, therefore deliver me from the dominion of sin. And when the lips are opened, what should they speak but the praises of God for his forgiving mercy?
Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.
According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary(a bible dictionary), contrite means to break or bruise; to rub or wear; broken-hearted for sin; deeply affected with grief and sorrow for having offended God; humble; penitent; as a contrite sinner.
For instance, "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" was prayed by King David in Psalm 51:17.
This is David's response to the judgment threatened in Psalm 50:8.
David was aware that God didn't really want sacrifice, or else he would so eagerly have offered it. Instead, David perceived that what God wanted in essence was a broken and contrite spirit.
The Bathsheba incident was programmatic for David's understanding of God, and his prayers and psalms subsequently can be expected to have constant allusion back to it.
We meet the same idea of God not ultimately wanting sacrifice in Psa 40:6-9: "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire (but instead) mine ears hast thou opened (Heb. 'digged'- a reference to a servant being permanently committed as a slave to his master): burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come... to do thy will.. thy law is within my heart".
In the Psalm (psalm 51:17), David had reasoned that instead of sacrifice, God wanted a heart that was broken and contrite.
In Psalm 40, he reflects that instead of sacrifice, God wants a heart that has the law of God within it. This, ultimately, is the effect of God's law being in our heart- it creates a broken and contrite heart.
David was aware that God didn't really want sacrifice, or else he would so eagerly have offered it. Instead, David perceived that what God wanted in essence was a broken and contrite spirit.
The Bathsheba incident was programmatic for David's understanding of God, and his prayers and psalms subsequently can be expected to have constant allusion back to it.
We meet the same idea of God not ultimately wanting sacrifice in Psa 40:6-9: "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire (but instead) mine ears hast thou opened (Heb. 'digged'- a reference to a servant being permanently committed as a slave to his master): burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come... to do thy will.. thy law is within my heart".
In the Psalm (psalm 51:17), David had reasoned that instead of sacrifice, God wanted a heart that was broken and contrite.
In Psalm 40, he reflects that instead of sacrifice, God wants a heart that has the law of God within it. This, ultimately, is the effect of God's law being in our heart- it creates a broken and contrite heart.
You may ask, "but how"?
In the experience of most of us, the law does this through convicting us of our inability to keep to it. And so we see how guilt and grace work so seamlessly together.
David's broken heart was a heart which knew he had sinned, sinned irreversibly, and condemned himself. But this, he perceived, was the result of God's law being within his heart.
But the words of Psalm 40:6-9 are applied in the New Testament to the Lord's death upon the cross.
What is the connection, and what is the lesson?
In essence, through David's experience of sin, and the work of God's law upon his heart, he came through that sin to have the very mind of the Lord Jesus as He hung upon the cross, matchless and spotless in His perfection, as the Lamb for sinners slain.
Again and again we see the lesson taught- that God works through human sin, in this case, in order to bring us to know the very mind of Christ in His finest hour of glory and spiritual conquest.
We must not only let God's word work its way in us, but we need to recognize when dealing with other sinners that God likewise is working with them. He doesn't shrug and walk away from sin; He earnestly seeks to use our experience of it(sin) to bring us closer unto Himself.
David's broken heart was a heart which knew he had sinned, sinned irreversibly, and condemned himself. But this, he perceived, was the result of God's law being within his heart.
But the words of Psalm 40:6-9 are applied in the New Testament to the Lord's death upon the cross.
What is the connection, and what is the lesson?
In essence, through David's experience of sin, and the work of God's law upon his heart, he came through that sin to have the very mind of the Lord Jesus as He hung upon the cross, matchless and spotless in His perfection, as the Lamb for sinners slain.
Again and again we see the lesson taught- that God works through human sin, in this case, in order to bring us to know the very mind of Christ in His finest hour of glory and spiritual conquest.
We must not only let God's word work its way in us, but we need to recognize when dealing with other sinners that God likewise is working with them. He doesn't shrug and walk away from sin; He earnestly seeks to use our experience of it(sin) to bring us closer unto Himself.
When you are convinced of your sin(you realize you have committed sin), poured out your soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace.
You need to sincerely or deeply ask or pray to God for forgiveness of sin, total cleansing and purification(with the special blood of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ).
Certainly, God Almighty, whose mercy is infinite(His mercy endures forever) will forgive you; you that is heart broken(because of your sin) and a contrite heart, and sorrowful for sin.
That is, a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word, will always receive mercy from Him.
To begin with, you need to follow me and say the prayer in question(that is, Psalm 51).
[For the choirmaster Of David When the prophet Nathan had come to him because he had gone to Bathsheba]
- Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offences;
- wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin.
- For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind.
- Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong, that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence, and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
- remember, I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.
- But you delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom.
- Purify me with hyssop till I am clean, wash me till I am whiter than snow.
- Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness, and the bones you have crushed will dance.
- Turn away your face from my sins, and wipe away all my guilt.
- God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit,
- do not thrust me away from your presence, do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.
- Give me back the joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.
- I shall teach the wicked your paths, and sinners will return to you.
- Deliver me from bloodshed, God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.
- Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will speak out your praise.
- Sacrifice gives you no pleasure, burnt offering you do not desire.
- Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.
- In your graciousness do good to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
- Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,-burnt offerings and whole oblations -- and young bulls will be offered on your altar.
Observations(Lessons)
In Psalms 51:1-6, the Psalmist(King David) prays for mercy, humbly confessing and lamenting his sins:
David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children return, but to the Lord their God, who alone can heal them? he drew up, by Divine teaching, an account of the workings of his heart toward God. Those that truly repent of their sins, will not be ashamed to own their repentance. Also, he instructs others what to do, and what to say. David had not only done much, but suffered much in the cause of God; yet he flees to God's infinite mercy, and depends upon that alone for pardon and peace. He begs the pardon of sin. The blood of Christ, sprinkled upon the conscience, blots out the transgression, and, having reconciled us to God, reconciles us to ourselves. The believer longs to have the whole debt of his sins blotted out, and every stain cleansed; he would be thoroughly washed from all his sins; but the hypocrite always has some secret reserve, and would have some favorite lust spared. David had such a deep sense of his sin, that he was continually thinking of it, with sorrow and shame. His sin was committed against God, whose truth we deny by wilful sin; with him we deal deceitfully. And the truly penitent will ever trace back the streams of actual sin to the fountain of original depravity. He confesses his original corruption. This is that foolishness which is bound in the heart of a child, that proneness to evil, and that backwardness to good, which is the burden of the regenerate, and the ruin of the unregenerate. He is encouraged, in his repentance, to hope that God would graciously accept him. Thou desirest truth in the inward part; to this God looks, in a returning sinner. Where there is truth, God will give wisdom. Those who sincerely endeavour to do their duty shall be taught their duty; but they will expect good only from Divine grace overcoming their corrupt nature.
In Psalms 51:7-15, he pleads for pardon, that he may promote the glory of God and the conversion of sinners:
Purge me with hyssop, with the blood of Christ applied to my soul by a lively faith, as the water of purification was sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop. The blood of Christ is called the blood of sprinkling, Hebrews 12:24. If this blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, cleanse us from our sin, then we shall be clean indeed, Hebrews 10:2. He asks not to be comforted, till he is first cleansed; if sin, the bitter root of sorrow, be taken away, he can pray in faith, Let me have a well-grounded peace, of thy creating, so that the bones broken by convictions may rejoice, may be comforted. Hide thy face from my sins; blot out all mine iniquities out of thy book; blot them out, as a cloud is blotted out and dispelled by the beams of the sun. And the believer desires renewal to holiness as much as the joy of salvation. David now saw, more than ever, what an unclean heart he had, and sadly laments it; but he sees it is not in his own power to amend it, and therefore begs God would create in him a clean heart. When the sinner feels this change is necessary, and reads the promise of God to that purpose, he begins to ask it. He knew he had by his sin grieved the Holy Spirit, and provoked him to withdraw. This he dreads more than anything. He prays that Divine comforts may be restored to him. When we give ourselves cause to doubt our interest in salvation, how can we expect the joy of it? This had made him weak; he prays, I am ready to fall, either into sin or into despair, therefore uphold me with thy Spirit. Thy Spirit is a free Spirit, a free Agent himself, working freely. And the more cheerful we are in our duty, the more constant we shall be to it. What is this but the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free, which is contrasted with the yoke of bondage? Galatians 5:1. It is the Spirit of adoption spoken to the heart. Those to whom God is the God of salvation, he will deliver from guilt; for the salvation he is the God of, is salvation from sin. We may therefore plead with him, Lord, thou art the God of my salvation, therefore deliver me from the dominion of sin. And when the lips are opened, what should they speak but the praises of God for his forgiving mercy?
In Psalms 51:16-19, God is pleased with a contrite heart, a prayer for the prosperity of Zion:
Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.
According to Matthew Henry(in a Bible commentary), "though David penned this psalm(psalm 51) upon a very particular occasion, yet, it is of as general use as any of David's psalms".
"It is the most eminent of the penitential psalms, and most expressive of the cares and desires of a repenting sinner".
It is a pity indeed that in our devout addresses to God we should have any thing else to do than to praise God, for that is the work of heaven but we make other work for ourselves by our own sins and follies: we must come to the throne of grace in the posture of penitents, to confess our sins and sue for the grace of God and, if therein we would take with us words, we can nowhere find any more apposite than in psalm 51, which is the record of David's repentance for his sin in the matter of Uriah, which was the greatest blemish upon his character: all the rest of his faults were nothing to this it is said of him (1 Kings 15:5), that "he turned not aside from the commandment of the Lord all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite."
In this psalm 51;
* King David confesses his sin with Psalms 51:3-6.
* He prays earnestly for the pardon of his sin in psalms 51:1,2,7,9.
* For peace of conscience, he prays psalms 51:8,12.
* For grace to go and sin no more, king David prays psalms 51:10,11,14.
* For liberty of access to God, he prays psalms 51:15.
* He promises to do whathee could for the good of the souls of others in psalm 51:13.
* For the glory of God, he prays psalms 51:16,17,19.
Lastly, he concludes with a prayer for Zion and Jerusalem in psalms 51:18.
As Matthew Henry said, those whose consciences charge them with any gross sin should, with a believing regard to Jesus Christ(the Mediator, again and again) pray over this psalm now.
Though we have not been guilty of adultery and murder, or any the like enormous crime, yet in singing it(psalm 51) and praying over it, we may very sensibly apply it all to ourselves, which if we do with suitable affections we shall, through Christ, find mercy to pardon and grace for seasonable help.
Prayer
May your sin be forgiven by God Almighty....In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Amen!
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