S – Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, 

blot out my rebellion. ² Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against you—you alone—I have sinned 

and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.

Psalms 51:1–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

51:1b–2. The three verbs David employed here are figurative. Blot out implies a comparison with human records that can be erased; wash away (kāḇas) compares forgiveness with washing clothing (often viewed as an extension of a person), and cleanse is drawn from the liturgical ceremonial law in which one might be purified for temple participation. These requests (cf. vv. 7, 9) stressed David’s desire for God’s total forgiveness of his transgressions … iniquity, and sin.

51:3–4. When he said that his sin was constantly before him, it must be remembered that his confession came about a year after he had sinned (the young child died a week after the confession; cf. 2 Sam. 12:13–18). Perhaps David had so rationalized his actions that he did not sense his guilt until Nathan approached him. At any rate, he confessed that he had sinned against the Lord. And he submitted to the Lord’s will, acknowledging that anything God decided about him would be just.

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 832.

A – This is one of the most famous Psalms.  Many of us have sin in our lives that has challenged our inner most beliefs in God and ourselves.  We see how a “man after God’s own heart” can sin and we can relate to that.  

       We must also see the parallel of forgiveness and moving forward.  Forgiveness doesn’t omit consequences.  In David’s case the baby died.  We are accountable the consequences of our sins.  But, we must forgive ourselves and move on to the things God has for us.  He has a plan and a purpose for us.

R – Heavenly Father, You are our Savior.  We know we are sinners and will fail you at times.  There is gravity and consequences for what we do.  And, when we do, we are grateful that Jesus paid for those sins with his blood on the cross.  We ask for a complete washing away of our sins, a restoration of our hearts for you and the courage to move forward towards the things you have for us.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.