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

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalm 51:1-13 (KJV)

What are some examples of self-inflicted stress?

  • Ignorance
  • Impatience
  • Stupidity
  • Willful disobedience
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What are the typical outcomes of self-inflicted stress?

  • Physical pain (Hebrews 12:5-11)
  • Emotional heartache grief over missed opportunities, remorse over wrong choices
  • Injury or accident due to carelessness or drunkenness
  • Loss
  • Broken relationships (spouse, children, or other family members)
  • Guilt
  • Separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Two examples in the Bible of self-inflicted stress due to sinful choices even though they thought it would be best for them.

  1. Israel wanting a king (1 Samuel 8:6-9, Psalm 106:14-15)
  2. Balaam wanting to go with the king of the Moabites even though God said don’t go. (Numbers 22,23,24)

Don’t mistake positive circumstances or lack of negative consequences for God’s blessings or approval in your life for a wrong choice or decision you made. God is patient and His chastisement may simply be deferred. 

The Process of Repentance (Psalm 51:1-9)

  1. The need for mercy (Psalm 51:1)
    Mercy means to bend and stoop in kindness or to have pity.
  2. The need for cleansing (Psalm 51:2 and 7)
    David describes his sin that he needed to be cleansed of in 3 ways:
    • Transgressions or a high-handed revolt against divinely constituted law.
    • Iniquity or a perversity or moral evil.
    • Sin is missing the mark, a stumbling, or a falling short.
  3. The need for the humble acknowledgement and confession of sin (Psalm 51:3,4,17)
  4. The need for an accurate assessment of our sinful self (51:5-7)

Total Depravity means we are not to deny it, minimize it, justify it, make excuse for it, or rationalize it away. We are to recognize our sinful state that we inherited from birth and realize that because of sin nature, we will sin. 

The Request for Renewal (Psalm 51:8-13)

  • The need for a restored relationship with God (Psalm 51:8-10)
  • The need for the Holy Spirit’s filling (Psalm 51:11-12) 
  • The need to learn from the sin and teach others to not go that way (Psalm 51:13)

The experiences that we suffer or go through, both good and bad, can be used by our loving and forgiving Lord to not only correct and lead us but also teach others.