Psalm 51 is one of the most raw and brutally honest passages in the entire Bible as David’s surrender and submission to God finally happens following his sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. … Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 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. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:1-4, 7-12 NLT)

It is common knowledge that blood stains are almost impossible to remove. Painting white over red until the crimson tint completely disappears takes many, many coats. David’s language reflects those thoughts. He longs to not feel stained or dirty or guilty or broken or disloyal or isolated any longer. We all know these feelings much too well.

Reflect on David’s understanding of how absolute the removal of any trace of sin God can bring. Like it never happened. David talks about how his rebellion haunts him day and night. Is there sin in your past, or even currently, that haunts you day and night?

Listen again to what David asks of God:

Have mercy on me … blot out the stain of my sins … Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 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. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. (from Psalm 51:1-4, 7-12 NLT)

It is likely that whatever the sin that haunts you day or night is not as drastic as the affair and murder that David carries. In confessing and asking forgiveness we are talking to the same God that David did in this passage. We know that God’s forgiveness is as absolute then as it is now. God’s grace never runs out. His mercy never ends. His love never quits. Can you offer the same grace to yourself that God gives? He promises a clean heart, a loyal spirit, joy of the salvation given to us.

Pray with me: “O God, thank You for Your mercy, Your unfailing love, Your removal of guilt and Your cleansing of stains. Thank You for Your restoration, but most of all, thank You for Your presence in my life. As above, so below.”