Create in me a clean heart, O God, – Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God, – Psalms 51:10

A meditation based on Psalms 51 and Reprint 5681A meditation based on Psalms 51 and Reprint 5681

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.Bathsheba.

"There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou "There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mightest be feared." (`Psalm 130:4`.)mightest be feared." (`Psalm 130:4`.)

God is not merciless.God is not merciless.

He does not disregard the weak He does not disregard the weak and imperfect condition.and imperfect condition.

He gives us credit for our heart He gives us credit for our heart intentions, even when the intentions, even when the weaknesses of the flesh are reproved weaknesses of the flesh are reproved and punished.and punished.

We are We are surprised that surprised that one who one who manifested so manifested so many noble many noble traits should traits should also have also have manifested manifested such such weaknesses as weaknesses as adultery and adultery and murder.murder.

DavidDavid

How could he change so much in such a short time?How could he change so much in such a short time?

David had been reverent, loyal and faithful.David had been reverent, loyal and faithful.

Psalms 51:1 Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my tender mercies blot out my transgressions.transgressions.

Psalms 51:2 Psalms 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.sin.

Come To Me – Hymn 3Come To Me – Hymn 3 Ah! my heart is heavy Ah! my heart is heavy laden,laden,Weary and oppressed.Weary and oppressed.Come to me, saith One, Come to me, saith One, and coming,and coming,Be at rest.Be at rest. Hath he marks to lead me Hath he marks to lead me to him,to him,If he be my guide?If he be my guide?In his feet and hands are In his feet and hands are wound-prints,wound-prints,And his side.And his side. Is there diadem, as Is there diadem, as monarch,monarch,That his brow adorns?That his brow adorns?Yes, a crown in very Yes, a crown in very surety,surety,But of thorns!But of thorns!

If I find him, if I follow,If I find him, if I follow,What’s my portion here?What’s my portion here?Many a sorrow, many a Many a sorrow, many a conflict,conflict,Many a tear.Many a tear. If I still hold closely to him,If I still hold closely to him,What have I at last?What have I at last?Sorrow vanquished, labor Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,ended,Jordan past!Jordan past! If I ask him to receive me,If I ask him to receive me,Will he say me nay?Will he say me nay?Not till earth and not till Not till earth and not till heavenheavenPass away!Pass away!

It is easier to live It is easier to live a wholly a wholly consecrated life consecrated life in poverty than in poverty than when surrounded when surrounded by wealth and by wealth and pleasure.pleasure.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. -- LUKE 9:23.THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. -- LUKE 9:23.

WOULD ye be My disciples? Consider again:WOULD ye be My disciples? Consider again:Can ye follow My footsteps through trial and pain?Can ye follow My footsteps through trial and pain?Can ye throw away pleasure, and glory, and fame,Can ye throw away pleasure, and glory, and fame,And live but to honor My cause and My name?And live but to honor My cause and My name?

Can ye turn from the glitter of fashion and mirth,Can ye turn from the glitter of fashion and mirth,And dwell like a pilgrim and stranger on earth,And dwell like a pilgrim and stranger on earth,Despising earth's riches, and living to bless?Despising earth's riches, and living to bless?Can you follow the feet of the shelterless?Can you follow the feet of the shelterless?

Can ye ask from your heart the forgiveness of men?Can ye ask from your heart the forgiveness of men?Can ye list to reproaches, nor answer again?Can ye list to reproaches, nor answer again?Can ye pray that repentance to life may be theirsCan ye pray that repentance to life may be theirsWho've watched for your falling, who've set for you Who've watched for your falling, who've set for you snares?snares?

When ye hear I am come, then can ye arise,When ye hear I am come, then can ye arise,The joy of your heart springing up in your eyes?The joy of your heart springing up in your eyes?Can ye come out to meet Me, whate'er the cost be,Can ye come out to meet Me, whate'er the cost be,Though ye come on the waves of a storm-crested sea?Though ye come on the waves of a storm-crested sea?

The king The king temporarily temporarily forgot that the forgot that the Ark, Ark, representative of representative of God's favor and God's favor and presence, was presence, was now in his city.now in his city.

Seeing of the Seeing of the Tabernacle Tabernacle should have should have brought freshly brought freshly to his mind the to his mind the thought, "Thou thought, "Thou God seest me."God seest me."

Psalms 51:3 Psalms 51:3 For I know my transgressions; And my For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.sin is ever before me.

Psalms 51:4 Psalms 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.clear when thou judgest.

King David did not get into King David did not get into so sinful a condition so sinful a condition of mind and heart of mind and heart suddenly. suddenly.

His heart His heart was still was still loyal to loyal to God and to God and to the the principles principles of of righteousnrighteousness, but ess, but somehow somehow his heart his heart had gone to had gone to sleep and sleep and his flesh his flesh had had become become very much very much alive.alive.

His relationship with God had His relationship with God had made him keen of intellect; and made him keen of intellect; and now, in yielding to temptation, now, in yielding to temptation, this keenness of mind was all this keenness of mind was all the more effective in the evil the more effective in the evil course.course.

Psalms 51:5 Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin didsin didmy mother conceive me.my mother conceive me.

Psalms 51:6 Psalms 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.know wisdom.

I want a principle within,I want a principle within,Of jealous, godly fear;Of jealous, godly fear;A sensibility of sin,A sensibility of sin,A pain to feel it near;A pain to feel it near;I want the first approach to I want the first approach to feelfeelOf pride or fond desire;Of pride or fond desire;To catch the wand’ring of To catch the wand’ring of my will,my will,And quench the kindling And quench the kindling fire.fire.

From thee that I no more From thee that I no more may part,may part,No more thy goodness No more thy goodness grieve,grieve,The filial awe, the loving The filial awe, the loving heart,heart,The tender conscience give.The tender conscience give.Quick as the apple of an Quick as the apple of an eye,eye,O God, my conscience O God, my conscience make;make;Awake my soul when sin is Awake my soul when sin is nigh,nigh,And keep it still awake.And keep it still awake.

If to the right or left I stray,If to the right or left I stray,That moment, Lord, reprove;That moment, Lord, reprove;And let thy goodness chase awayAnd let thy goodness chase awayAll hindrance to thy love.All hindrance to thy love.O! may the least omission painO! may the least omission painMy well instructed soul.My well instructed soul.And send me to the blood again,And send me to the blood again,Which makes and keeps me whole.Which makes and keeps me whole.

Hymn 130 Hymn 130 Earnest WatchfulnessEarnest Watchfulness

David first David first coveted his coveted his neighbor's neighbor's wife.wife.

He did not He did not rebuke this rebuke this sinful sinful condition of condition of mind, but mind, but allowed it to allowed it to proceed until proceed until he stole his he stole his neighbor's neighbor's wife and wife and arranged for arranged for him to be him to be killed on the killed on the battlefield.battlefield.

Psalms 51:7Psalms 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.than snow.

Psalms 51:8 Psalms 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bonesThat the boneswhich thou hast broken may rejoice.which thou hast broken may rejoice.

David seemed unable to bring himself David seemed unable to bring himself to repentance, therefore God sent the to repentance, therefore God sent the prophet Nathan unto him.prophet Nathan unto him.

““THOU ART THE THOU ART THE MAN”MAN”

The prophet The prophet Nathan wisely Nathan wisely brought his brought his reproof in the reproof in the form of a form of a parable about a parable about a poor man with poor man with one lamb which one lamb which was stolen by a was stolen by a wealthy wealthy neighbor.neighbor.

Instantly King David's heart was Instantly King David's heart was aroused; immediately his aroused; immediately his conscience was quickened. conscience was quickened.

The king The king immediateimmediately ly acknowledacknowledged his ged his sin, and sin, and prayed, prayed, fasted and fasted and mourned. mourned.

Psalms 51:9 Psalms 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, And blot Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mineout all mineiniquities.iniquities.

Psalms 51:10Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.And renew a right spirit within me.

Psalms 51:11 Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from thy Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.Spirit from me.

Psalms 51:12 Psalms 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.willing spirit.

My joys to thee I bring,My joys to thee I bring,The joys thy love has giv’nThe joys thy love has giv’nThat each may be a wingThat each may be a wingTo lift me nearer heav’n;To lift me nearer heav’n;I bring them, Saviour, all to I bring them, Saviour, all to thee,thee,Who hast procured them all Who hast procured them all for me,for me,Who hast procured them all Who hast procured them all for me.for me. My life I bring to thee:My life I bring to thee:I would not be my own,I would not be my own,O Saviour, let me beO Saviour, let me beThine, ever, thine alone.Thine, ever, thine alone.My heart, my life, my all I My heart, my life, my all I bringbringTo thee, my Saviour and my To thee, my Saviour and my King,King,To thee, my Saviour and my To thee, my Saviour and my King.King.

I bring my sins to thee,I bring my sins to thee,The sins I cannot count,The sins I cannot count,That all may cleansed beThat all may cleansed beIn thy once opened In thy once opened fount;fount;I bring them, Saviour, all I bring them, Saviour, all to thee,to thee,The burden is too great The burden is too great for me,for me,The burden is too great The burden is too great for me.for me. I bring my grief to thee,I bring my grief to thee,The grief I cannot tell;The grief I cannot tell;No words shall needed No words shall needed be,be,Thou knowest all so well;Thou knowest all so well;I bring the sorrow laid on I bring the sorrow laid on me,me,O loving Saviour, all to O loving Saviour, all to thee,thee,O loving Saviour, all to O loving Saviour, all to thee.thee.

I BRING MY ALL TO THEE – Hymn 103I BRING MY ALL TO THEE – Hymn 103

Many Christians Many Christians have had have had experience along experience along this line. God does this line. God does not continue to not continue to treat them as treat them as sinners; but, sinners; but, accepting their accepting their heart contrition, heart contrition, He forgives them He forgives them in that sense of the in that sense of the word; yet true to word; yet true to His arrangement, His arrangement, "Whatsoever a man "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall soweth, that shall he also reap." he also reap."

Psalms 51:13 Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.converted unto thee.

Psalms 51:14 Psalms 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; God, thou God of my salvation; [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.thy righteousness.

Psalms 51:15 Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.mouth shall show forth thy praise.

Psalms 51:16 Psalms 51:16 For thou delightest not in sacrifice; For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.pleasure in burnt-offering.

1 From ev’ry stormy wind that 1 From ev’ry stormy wind that blows,blows,From ev’ry swelling tide of From ev’ry swelling tide of woes,woes,There is a calm, a sure retreat;There is a calm, a sure retreat;‘‘Tis found beneath the mercy Tis found beneath the mercy seat.seat. 2 There is a place where Jesus 2 There is a place where Jesus shedsshedsThe oil of gladness on our The oil of gladness on our heads;heads;A place than all besides more A place than all besides more sweet;sweet;It is the blood-bought mercy It is the blood-bought mercy seat.seat.

3 O! whither could we flee for aid,3 O! whither could we flee for aid,When tempted, desolate, dismayed?When tempted, desolate, dismayed?Or how would hosts of foes defeat,Or how would hosts of foes defeat,Had suff’ring saints no mercy seat?Had suff’ring saints no mercy seat? 4 There, there on eagle wings we soar,4 There, there on eagle wings we soar,And sin and sense molest no more;And sin and sense molest no more;And heav’n comes down our souls to greet,And heav’n comes down our souls to greet,While glory crowns the mercy seat.While glory crowns the mercy seat.

Hymn 56 Hymn 56 The Mercy The Mercy SeatSeat

Psalms 51:17 Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalms 51:18 Psalms 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

The lesson applies to all who have The lesson applies to all who have ever been in covenant relationship ever been in covenant relationship with God.with God.

The important lesson here is that we The important lesson here is that we shall keep close accounts with God. shall keep close accounts with God.

No child of God should go forth in the No child of God should go forth in the morning without an earnest petition to morning without an earnest petition to Him for Divine supervision of his affairs Him for Divine supervision of his affairs and for help to walk in the right path.and for help to walk in the right path.

No child of God should retire at night No child of God should retire at night without a retrospective glance on all without a retrospective glance on all the day's pathway.the day's pathway.

If perchance something has If perchance something has occurred of which he should feel occurred of which he should feel ashamed, it is none too soon to go ashamed, it is none too soon to go at once to the Throne of Heavenly at once to the Throne of Heavenly Grace to obtain mercy and find Grace to obtain mercy and find fresh help for future times of fresh help for future times of need.need.

Hebrews 4:16 Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto theboldness unto thethrone of grace, that we may receive throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help [us] in mercy, and may find grace to help [us] in time of need.time of need.

Psalms 51:19 Psalms 51:19

Then will thou delight in the Then will thou delight in the sacrifices ofsacrifices ofrighteousness, In burnt-offering righteousness, In burnt-offering and in whole burnt-offering: Then and in whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.altar.

David's language should not be understood to David's language should not be understood to teach the restoration of the literal, bloody, typical teach the restoration of the literal, bloody, typical sacrifices, is evident, for in the same connection sacrifices, is evident, for in the same connection he says, "Thou desirest not sacrifice [either he says, "Thou desirest not sacrifice [either typical or antitypical-- full atonement for sin typical or antitypical-- full atonement for sin having been accomplished by that time "once for having been accomplished by that time "once for all"]...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a all"]...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." All these sacrifices must be of the free despise." All these sacrifices must be of the free will and desire of the offerer. Lev. 1:3 -- T96will and desire of the offerer. Lev. 1:3 -- T96

The child of God thus keeping daily The child of God thus keeping daily accounts with the Father and with accounts with the Father and with the Redeemer, will abide in Their the Redeemer, will abide in Their love and not be in danger of falling love and not be in danger of falling into any such great sins as these into any such great sins as these noted in this lesson. Even King noted in this lesson. Even King David, we may be sure, would have David, we may be sure, would have fallen into no such sins had he not fallen into no such sins had he not allowed gradually to arise earth-allowed gradually to arise earth-born clouds of fleshly hues born clouds of fleshly hues between the Lord and himself.between the Lord and himself.

1 Sun of my soul, my Father dear,I know no night when thou art near.O! may no earth-born cloud ariseTo hide thee from thy servant’s eyes. 2 Shield of my soul, tho’ tempests rage,And ‘gainst me hosts of foes engage,My refuge and my fortress thou,Before thee ev’ry foe must bow. 3 Thy grace and glory thou dost giveTo those who near thee ever live;And no good thing dost thou withholdFrom sheep which stray not from thy fold.

4 Thy choicest treasure, e’en thy Son,Thy well beloved and only one,Freely thou gavest once for me,From sin and death to set me free. 5 Yea, thou who sparedst not thy Son,Whose sacrifice our ransom won,Shalt, with him, all things freely give;He lives, a pledge that we shall live.

Hymn 273 The Lord, A Sun And Shield

O SOUL OF MINE!O SOUL OF MINE!O SOUL of mine, be calm, be still,O SOUL of mine, be calm, be still,Submit thyself to God,Submit thyself to God,In all thy ways yield to His will,In all thy ways yield to His will,Nor faint beneath the rod.Nor faint beneath the rod.O soul of mine, like potter's clayO soul of mine, like potter's clayWithin the Master's hand,Within the Master's hand,O let Him mould thee day by day,O let Him mould thee day by day,Till faultless thou shalt stand.Till faultless thou shalt stand.O soul of mine, have faith, believe,O soul of mine, have faith, believe,Nor count the cost of strife,Nor count the cost of strife,Fight on, faint not, thou shalt receiveFight on, faint not, thou shalt receiveAt last the Crown of Life!At last the Crown of Life!