Psalm 51

Today's scripture: Psalm 51 (Go here to read it in your preferred version)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Actions of God in this scripture:
He will have mercy on me (v. 1), blot out my transgressions (v. 1), wash me of my sins and cleanse me (v. 2), be just when he judges (v. 4), want truthfulness and will show us wisdom (v. 6), will purge us and wash us (v. 7), show us joy and gladness (v. 8), turn from me when I'm sinning but when I repent he'll take away all of my transgressions (v. 9), create a clean heart and spirit within me (v. 10), won't turn away from me completely (v. 11), bring restoration (v. 12), deliver me (v. 14), open my lips to praise (v. 15), wants certain sacrifices from me (v. 17), will be pleased with those sacrifices (v. 19)

Commands to me:
Own up to my sin (v. 3), teach others for the ultimate goal of converting people (v. 13), sing to Him (v. 14), praise Him (v. 15), break my spirit, be contrite (v. 17)

Characteristics of God:
lovingkindness, merciful, my salvation, righteous

Take away:
God is so merciful to me that He is always willing to blog out my sins. I am clean! But. I must own up to my sin and be repentant. I sin against God when I sin. When I have anger to a friend, that's sinning against God. When I am lazy, ultimately I am sinning against God. So if he judges me for that he is totally justified. Praise God he will cleanse me and make me whiter than snow! He takes away my past, present and future sins. I've got to continually strive to have a new, clean, pure heart though. He is the God of restoration! Then I must go and tell others for the ultimate goal of saving souls. The real sacrifices God wants are for my heart to break over the same things his heart breaks for. He is pleased with that, and when we are striving to be more like him.

Did you enjoy this scripture? What do you take away from it?