Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit - Psalm 51:7-12

After acknowledging the nature and depth of his sin (vv. 3-6), the Psalmist now turns in supplication to God. These pleas reveal David’s understanding of the plight he is in. He is not in a position nor does he have the power to bring about the renewal and cleansing he needs. As he confessed that his only hope was in the love and mercy of God (vv.1-2), he made numerous requests for the Lord to act on his behalf. Only the Lord can truly answer his prayers.

By confessing his inability, David (and we along with him) are also declaring that our sin is no small matter. We don’t need a tune-up or a tiny adjustment or a little help. The language here is strong and radical. There needs to be purging and restoration. We don’t want a simple spot clean of our hearts. We need completely new hearts. We want what is old and wrong to be removed and replaced by what is new and good.

We also see the horror of our sins. The weight and pain of them is like broken bones. Have you ever had a broken bone, even a small break? Even tiny movements cause pain and are constant reminders that something is wrong. But even more is the fear that God might leave us, which on the basis of our sin alone, he would be justified in doing. David had a living example of recent memory before him when he penned the request that God not cast him away or take away the Holy Spirit. He had seen it happen in the life of his predecessor, King Saul. While this side of the cross and resurrection brings a different experience for believers, there are still numerous instances in the New Testament which warn against presumptuous sins (cf. Hebrews 6).

The good news is that God hears and answers such requests that flow from a heart which sincerely repents. And we know that such forgiveness and cleansing that is needed has been purchased for us by our Savior in his perfect life and atoning death. The resulting experience for us as recipients of such grace is exactly what the psalmist deeply wants, which is the joy and gladness of renewed and right relationship with the Lord. Three times in these verses, we see notes of joy. We want to hear joy and gladness; we want our broken bones to rejoice; we want the Lord to bring back to us the joy of salvation.

Saints, if you want freedom from the penalty, power, and someday the very presence of sin and if you want to know the joy of a clean heart, a right and willing spirit, and an ongoing fellowship with God, then don’t downplay or dismiss your sin. Confess it with true repentance and see how God will work to graciously pour out His mercies upon you.