Psalm 51:7-11
Verse 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
After begging for God’s mercy King David knew he never wanted to fall into such sin again. He also knew there was no way he could keep himself from sinning like that. He hadn’t been able to keep himself from breaking many commands during the episode with Bathsheba.
If he had been able to keep himself from sinning he may have done it when he first saw her by turning his eyes away and going inside so he wouldn’t be tempted for a second look. Or maybe he could have stopped himself before asking for her to be brought to him or maybe before touching her. Better yet maybe he should have stopped the sin by going to war with his men as was customary for kings to do in the spring.
Even after all those choices to sin if he had been capable to stop sinning in his own strength, finding out about Bathsheba’s pregnancy should have been the wake-up call to help him stand his ground against sin, but instead he dove deeper into sin by compounding the sins he had already been committing. Instead of owning up to his sin he decided to try and disguise it, when that didn’t work he sent a man to be murdered. It was obvious he couldn’t keep from sinning by his own strength.
It was upon being convicted of his sin that the king after God’s own heart could see his weaknesses and need of God’s help in keeping himself pure. To that end he begged God to give him a pure heart, a heart which would desire God and His ways over and above everything else. Notice he didn’t ask God to give him a pure heart, but to create a pure heart in him. This is important because it was David acknowledging God isn’t looking to make us into His puppets but to partner with us to becoming the people He has called us to be.
David didn’t stop with the desire for a pure heart, he asked God to renew a steadfast spirit within him. The king had come to the point where his repentance was driving him to revival. This is what repentance should be spurring us onto. When we are fully repentant and desire a pure heart, God will spark the fire of revival in our hearts.
Making It Personal
Have you ever asked God to create in you a pure heart? What will you have to give up in order to have a pure heart? Do you desire revival enough to give those things up?
Making It Personal Kids
What does it mean to have a pure heart? Are there things you would have to give up to have a pure heart? Do you love Jesus enough to want a pure heart instead of those things?
Closing Prayer
Father, we repent of not wanting You to create a steadfast spirit within us. Give us a desire to be pure in You so You can spark revival in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments