February 26, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Confess And Be Restored

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, help me to be confident with being arrogant, sensitive without being overwhelmed and faithful to You.

Read Psalm 51

[1] For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. [5] Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. [6] Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. [7] Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. [8] Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. [9] Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. [10] Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. [11] Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. [13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. [14] Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. [15] Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. [16] You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. [17] My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. [18] May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. [19] Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“While unconfessed sin will not break our union with God, it will break our communion with God” Alan Redpath, (1907–1989).

As I read the psalms in my daily devotions I hesitate when I come to this psalm. It is confronting to know I need to pray its confession regularly (1–9) even though I have not followed in King David’s path (2 Sam. 11,12). I also experience the overwhelming relief that confession and forgiveness bring, and I long for the kind of restoration the psalmist prays for (10–19). This keeps open the door to unfettered fellowship with God. A “broken and contrite heart” (17) is not taught in self-esteem workshops, and there is a danger that feeling the depths of our sinfulness can lead to despair if we are not aware of the remedy available. What saves us is Jesus’ cross, resurrection and ascension—all three. Hebrews calls this looking to Jesus, the one who has opened the way to God and continues to intercede for us. God’s grace enables the forgiven sinner to find acceptance and strength to live differently. Hebrews warns us that we need this promise of a way back to fullness of life. The corporate aspect introduced in verses 18 and 19 may seem strange, but hopefully it encourages us to foster communal confession—not common today in our churches. Old Testament stories of people’s joy after public acknowledgment of sin show the power of recognizing when people are hurting in our communities and then doing something about it. We can also be reminded that even apparently private sins interfere with all relationships. This is obvious for the bigger of David’s sins: murder impacts the extended family of the one killed and adultery robs children of a secure family life because the community is weakened when God’s guidelines for moral living are undermined. The same applies to the lesser sins of jostling for power, backbiting and favoritism that can undermine a church. Father, forgive and restore us!

Apply

Does this psalm speak to you? Respond to God’s convicting power and accept his forgiveness and restoration.

Closing prayer

I thank You, Lord, that when I confess my sins, they are forgiven, forgotten, forever.

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