Clean
Psalm 51
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.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Have you ever felt dirty? Do you know what it’s like to feel guilty or shamed by other s because of your actions? This psalm shows us a hard truth: we feel dirty because we are dirty. We’ve harmed others and ourselves, but our biggest offense is betraying God.
The amazing thing is that even though we have done so much harm, God does not leave us dirty. Take a few minutes and look at the verses in the footnotes below that are connected to the psalm. Every single one of the psalmist’s pleas to God to cleanse him are answered by Jesus!
Do you feel dirty? Ask Jesus to make you clean in your heart, and trust that he can!
Prayer for Today
“Lord, I realize that my actions have made me dirty and have betrayed your love for me. Create in me a pure heart through Jesus. Give me the joy of your salvation today!”