Sunday, April 12, 2009
Renewing a Right Spirit
(Psalm 51)
God described David as a “man after mine own heart,” meaning that David was so close to God that he could—figuratively, of course—feel His heart beat. From the days of youthful innocence, David had spent hours in blithe fellowship with the Lord. As youth matured, however, the complications of adulthood sometimes overshadowed the simplicity of his earlier faith. In a word, David fell into deep sin and remained in egregiously broken fellowship for perhaps as long as 18 months.
All know the nature of David’s two-fold sin. Unfortunately, the mention of David’s name perpetually conjures mental images of his crimes, forever casting a shadow of doubt over an otherwise triumphant life. His sin has lived on to haunt his reputation beyond the grave. Sin has a way of doing that.
Though we remember David’s sin, God has forgiven. Psalm 51 presents the most beautiful penitential prayer in the entire Bible. David’s acknowledgment of wrongdoing (4) coupled with his plea for cleansing (7-10) reveal a heart seeking the refreshing “right spirit” of revival. The lesson for us is straightforward: personal revival can only come as we acknowledge personal wrongdoing (stop making excuses!) and seek God’s cleansing anew. Our spirit is only “right” as it is in communion with our God. As we think about personal revival, let us take the time necessary to acknowledge and confess our sins. Perhaps we, in thinking of our own waywardness, should pray David’s Psalm 51 to the Lord with a heart as sincere as David’s. Certainly God will revive our spirits as well!
