Have you ever had to learn a lesson the hard way? by making a mistake?

It's no wonder Thomas Jefferson said that a "wise man learns from other

people's mistakes."

What David is talking about in Psalm 51 is just such a mistake.

And his mistake teaches us not only the consequences of sinful actions,

but also about the problem within human nature itself.

Notice how David begins his appeal before God.

He observes that our only hope as humans is to fall on the mercies of God.

God is known for His "loving kindness" and "tender mercies."

God suffers with us. He understands our need for compassion.

David doesn't rationalize or try to somehow fix the problem

before coming to God.

No, David can simply come and fall at God's feet.

David then acknowledges his action for what they are.

1. Transgressions- willful disobedience against God.

2. Iniquities- crookedness, perversion, distortion

3. Sin- failure to behave as God expects.

We have to do the same thing.

If we have sinned then we have to call sin- "SIN"

Calling sin by any other name only allows us to deceive ourselves.

So David realizes his sin and that only God can do what needs to be done:

to "blot out," "wash thoroughly," and "cleanse" the sin from David's life.

David has a profound insight into his problem. It is a two-fold problem.

Sin is an action as we read in vv. 3-4.

David is reminded that he has made choices contrary to God's laws.

Sin is primarily against God.

Sin not only breaks God's law, but it breaks his heart.

We desire to seek a clean heart, so not to break

God's heart.

But Sin, as we read in vv. 5-6, is also a condition of our human nature.

David realizes that there is something selfish and evil within us.

We come into this world with a disposition to sin.

It is here that God wants to do His deepest work.

God wants to bring his light to our "inward" or "hidden" part.

He wants to transform our motivating attitudes.

God wants to cleanse our desires, affections, and will.

So what is our plea?

David realizes that what needs to be done can only be done by God.

There is no self-help book that can help with sin.

God himself needs to minister to these deep needs of guilt and pain.

He "purges them with hyssop" as it says in verse 7.

This refers to the cleansing of a leper. A sickness cured.

God washes deeper than the stain of a sinful action,

God's cleansing penetrates our inner nature where the problem starts.

Notice in vv. 9-10 how David refers to sin as being:

     -blotted out, which refers to acts that need forgiveness.

AND -cleansed, which refers to our attitudes, motivations, and will.

Of course, David recognizes that the source of his help is God's Holy Spirit.

Only the Spirit of God can cleanse the human spirit.

It is the presence of God's Holy Spirit within us that is the secret

to the holy life.  The same Spirit Who was poured out to all at Pentecost.

Our response to this? What thanks can we give?

In verse 13, David says that it is to share with others what God has done,

so that they too can know His changing power.

Although this passage was written long ago, its insights into the needs 

of our hearts are as clear as the evening news.

Society and culture may change, but the issues of the heart never change.

So today, we are reminded of 5 facts of the heart:

1. Our only hope is in God's mercy.

2. We must be willing to call sin by its name.

3. Sin is both an act we commit and a selfish heart.

4. Only God can forgive our sins and cleanse our hearts.

5. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us pure in heart
   as we yield ourselves to Him.

Do you have a clean heart?