Psalm 51:10-11 – Cleanse Me

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”
(Psalm 51:10-11)

This is a great passage to remember when you want to tell God your heart needs cleansing. In those moments of weakness when we have fallen prey to the wiles of the evil one or simply made a bad choice, we, too, can cry out to God.

Context (Psalm 51): This psalm was written after the prophet Nathan had come to King David and confronted him about his infidelity with Bathsheba. The psalm laments and also praises God. David wants to remove the stain of sin from himself, hoping God will redeem him. David seeks forgiveness and mercy, to be purified and restored.

It’s clear that David regrets his actions and wants to make things right with God again. God will acknowledge David’s prayer, but there will be consequences, too. Even David, God’s anointed one, must learn what happens when we disobey God. What a great benefit that we can learn from David’s example.

I’m quite confident we have all done things in our lives for which we should be down on our knees like David was. We all sin and fall short of God’s perfect plans for us. We can’t help it. We don’t all have wise men like Nathan pointing out our errors of judgment and sinful tendencies.

We can use this verse at any time to be cleansed. Get ready to have a clean heart and a renewed spirit. Remember to not just ask, but believe that God will cleanse you. Spending time in prayer, in God’s word, and in a time of worship and praise is always a good remedy to refresh ourselves.

The psalmist’s request to not be banished from the Lord’s presence shows David’s fear that he had messed up to the point he thought God would abandon him. Have you ever done something so wicked that you believed God would take away your salvation? Thankfully, because of what Jesus did, we have the assurance and joy of salvation so long as we believe.

David’s direct reference to the Holy Spirit shouldn’t surprise us. After all, the Holy Spirit was present in creation and active in the Old Testament, too. There are many examples of how God’s power, the Holy Spirit, was at work to help God’s chosen leaders when they needed it. David is a prime example when we look at his success in battle and establishing an earthly kingdom.

It wasn’t until Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to everyone who asks did the Spirit’s accessibility change. Jesus knew that his disciples, including us, would need the wisdom and guidance only the Holy Spirit could provide. We should be honored by the gift and never take it for granted.

Let’s pray. Lord, forgive me for I have sinned. My heart breaks knowing I have disappointed you. Cleanse me and ready me for service. Refresh my spirit to be aligned with your plans for me. I cherish each moment we spend together. Help me use the gifts and talents you have given me to shine for you and draw others to a living faith in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.