Psalm 51 (KJV) 1-16: Create in me a clean heart, O God

From Psalms

Psalm 51: 1-16
(For the director of music, A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.)

¹Have mercy upon me, O God,
      according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
      blot out my transgressions.
²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
      and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I acknowledge my transgressions:
      and my sin is ever before me.
⁴Against 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.
⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity;
      and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
      and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
      wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness;
      that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
⁹Hide thy face from my sins,
      and blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God;
      and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence;
      and take not thy holy spirit from me.
¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
      and uphold me with thy free spirit.

¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;
      and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
      thou God of my salvation:
      and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
¹⁵O Lord, open thou my lips;
      and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it:
      thou delightest not in burnt offering.

This is a big psalm for me because in spirit, as a sex addict, I also committed adultery, like David.  It wasn't exactly the same.  However, when I visited strip clubs, and lied about it, I was unfatihful.  When I watched porn and lied about it I was unfaithful.  David, one of the most holy people to ever lived.  One God's ordained children.  He, like myself, for a point in time, was unable to control his lust for a woman and broke two commandments.  So, this psalm has a special place for the sex addict.  In line with the 12 steps this psalm, has: a cry conscience, a cry of confession and clemency, a cry for cleansing and communion.

Let's highlight these as I simply recite this as means of redemption of my sins.  Cry of conscience: "For I acknowledge my transgressions and they are ever before me."  Cry of confession and clemency: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."  The idea that the thought of sin is as bad as committing the sin.  Cry for cleansing and communion: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in me."

I think this last line will be my mantra for the day.  "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in me."

Thanks for letting me share.