Have Mercy On Me, O God -Psalm 51:1

Have Mercy On Me, O God – Psalm 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love.
Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

Reflection

If you don’t know the great scandal of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel, you should read about it. I’ll spare you the dramatic details here, but Psalm 51 was written by David sometime after his sin of adultery. A situation he got so tangled up in that He was certainly in need of God’s mercy. Have you ever been in a situation where, before you knew it, you were tangled up in it asking for the Lord’s mercy?

Unfortunately, we have all been affected by sin. Like in David’s time, adultery is one of those sins that runs rampant in our pervasive culture. Sometimes it is even glorified. What the world will not tell us though is that sin keeps us enslaved to more sin. It sucks the air out of our life and leaves us spiritually, emotionally and even physically destitute. The good news is — we have a Savior! We are beheld by a God that, through our sincere repentance, is willing to have mercy on all who ask of Him to show His unfailing love. Our Lord is so full of compassion that He provided a way, through Jesus Christ, for You and I to return to Him and be restored. Living in sin steals our freedom and robs us of our peace. Repenting of sin and accepting the Lord’s mercy liberates us from bondage. It is at the foot of the Cross we become truly and wholly free. If a particular sin has been holding you back, with a repentant and humble heart, go at once to God. Repent of your sin and know that by His grace, you will be set free!

Adapted Prayer of David

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
Please wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in Your sight;
so You are right and just in Your verdict;
  justified always when You judge.

Lord, please cleanse me and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear Your joy and gladness;
    let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
Hide Your face from all my sins
    and blot out my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast Spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
    or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
    and grant me a willing Spirit, to sustain me.

Deliver me from my guilt, O Lord,
    You Who are my Savior;
    my tongue will sing always of Your righteousness;
my mouth will declare Your praise forevermore.
Amen.

See also:
4 Powerful Prayers When You Need Forgiveness
The Chaplet Of The Divine Mercy