Re-Created Heart

                   

The whole of Psalm 51 echoes the deep penitence of King David when Nathan, the prophet came to him, after he lay with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah whom he plotted to kill by sending the soldier into the hottest battle (2 Sam 11).

In the aforementioned text, King David expressed his need for a clean heart; thus, he asked God to create in him a new heart, as it was in the beginning. Mending and restoration would not benefit for he knew that such was altogether filthy and corrupted.

He recognized what sin will do. Every human being is susceptible to sin, having known good and evil. Sin respects no civil, academic or economic status. Even David, whom the Lord hath sought to be a man after His own heart, a captain over His people (1 Sam 13:14), admitted in Psalm 51:3 “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” The elements of sin’s nature do no man any good: Satan, the author of sin, deceives man with his subtlety since the time of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:1); the matter of sin itself deprives man of real joy, hence offering great pleasures but only for a season (Heb 11:25b); the act of sinning (continually) depreciates the value of eternity by exposing one soul to “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, (1 John 2:16).”

He realized what he must do. God’s compassionate hand worked abruptly when He sent Nathan to David. He was not just a prophet to the king but a friend and a counselor, too. In 2 Samuel chapter 12, by a fine parable, pointedly applied, he convicted David of his guilt in respect to Uriah and Bathsheba. Consequently, David declared that he had done such evil in God’s sight, and confessed that he had sinned before the Lord (Ps 51:4). He then desired cleansing until he would become whiter than snow (Ps 51:7). Our daily prayer must always include a sincere plea that God would make us know our transgression and sin through the conviction of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. One more point is that conviction requires action.

He resorted to what God can do. In Job 14:4, Job uttered to his friends, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” He spoke of man’s limited capacity over a sinful heart; and behind such truth, he was convinced that there is no other person who can revive and renew but only God Almighty. Same was David’s disposition that he cleaved unto God whom he believed to be the author of his salvation. Only such a mighty God can bring back the joy and a free spirit in him (Ps 51:12). God can surely deliver us from guilt and shame, only if we will believe. More so, let us not forget that pacifying gifts to the Lord for our transgressions is not what He earnestly desires. He delights more in broken hearts (Ps 51:17), and to those who are willing to get right with Him.

Just as anyone can be grievously affected by sin, it is good to know that above anything else, and before God transforms a life, He will first create a new heart. So whenever you feel broken-hearted, come and only God can make for you a re-created heart!