David’s Sin and Repentance
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Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me
from
my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is
ever before
me....
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,
and I
shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness;
That the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide Thy face from my sins,
And blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
And uphold me with Thy free Spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways;
And sinners shall be converted unto Thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of
my
salvation:
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.”
Psalm 51:1-14
.
Thus in a sacred song to be sung in the public assemblies of
his people, in the presence of the court—priests and judges, princes
and men of war—and which would preserve to the latest generation
the knowledge of his fall, the king of Israel recounted his sin, his
repentance, and his hope of pardon through the mercy of God. Instead
of endeavoring to conceal his guilt he desired that others might be
instructed by the sad history of his fall.
David’s repentance was sincere and deep. There was no effort
to palliate his crime. No desire to escape the judgments threatened,