Hitchhiker's Guide to Repentance

Psalm 51

Main Idea: God always answers the sinner's prayer of repentance.

I. The Basis of Repentance (51:1-2)

Psalm 51:1-2: Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin!

False Basis: Track record, comparison, bargaining.

True Basis: The nature and character of God is the basis of our repentance.

"When the person from whom I have a right to expect nothing gives me everything."
~ Michael Card, Inexpressible

God is a bigger savior than you are a sinner.

Romans 11:5-6: So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
~Augustus Montague Toplady, Rock of Ages (1762)

II. The Heart of Repentance (51:3-6)

Psalm 51:3-6: For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you may be justified in your words

and blameless in your judgment.

Suppress: Hide, Rationalize, Blame shift

Confess: David has come to see his sin in God’s sight.

Psalm 51:5: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Sin is only sin because God is real.

2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

III. The Fruit of Repentance (51:7-19)

"When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said 'Repent,' He willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance."
~ Martin Luther

Psalm 51:7-17: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

O God of my salvation,

and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

“All enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise… except where intolerably adverse circumstances interfere, praise almost seems to be inner health made audible… men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: 'Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don't you think that magnificent?' We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”
~ C.S. Lewis