Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

4. A New Heart- “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (10) The Hebrew word for ‘create’ is ‘ Bara ’ meaning ‘out of nothing’ and it is used of the creation account in Genesis. It looks forward to the new birth that Jesus described to Nicodemus: “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven.” (Jn. 3:6) 5. A Renewed Spirit- “Renew a right spirit within me.” (10) Spurgeon says of this and the previ- ous sentence: “The two sentences make a complete whole. Create what is not there at all; renew that which is there, but in a sadly feeble state.” God gives us the divine nature of Christ and renews the human spirit. 6. Living in the Awareness of God- “Do not banish me from your presence.” (11) Cain was driven away from God because he did not acknowledge the wrong of murdering his brother Abel: “My punish- ment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from my land and from your presence;” (Gen. 4:13,14) The acknowledgment and forgiveness of our sins restores our relationship with God. 7. Filled with the Holy Spirit- “…and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”(11) Peter tells us “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) 8. Serving Him Joyfully- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation,…” (12) Sin removes the joy from life; a restored relationship with God brings lasting happiness. “With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!” (Isa. 12:3) 9. Renewed Obedience- “…and make me willing to obey you.” (12) The new birth is most evi- denced by a desire to please and obey God! The inner rebellion is removed and obedience becomes our passion. 10. Sharing with Others- “Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.” (13) The most convincing witness comes from those who have experienced the greatest forgiveness. David is still ‘teaching’ sinners the powerful and far-reaching mercy of God. 11. Joyful Singing- “Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.” (14) The adulterer/murderer is exonerated; the sweet psalmist of Israel sings of a mercy that endures to our day transforming ‘sin’ into ‘salvation’. • The Outward Rejected- “You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it.” (16) David is agreeing with what Asaph wrote in Psalm 50; God wants the inward sacrifices before he wants our material goods or outward service. “I don’t need the bulls you sacrifice;…What I want instead is your true thanks to God;…” (Ps. 50:13,14) • The Inward Required- “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.” (17) The prophets watched over the unseen kingdom of the heart point- ing out what God truly wants from mankind. “The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts.’” (Isa. 57:15) God builds his kingdom with broken people. • The Outward Received- “Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices and with our whole burnt offerings; and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.” (18,19) 12. A Life Of Praise- “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you.” (15) The pardoned heart is the greatest source of praise! It is God himself who breaks the seal that sin puts upon the mouth. III RESTORATION - 16-19

David’s sin had deeply affected the nation and now he asks for national as well as personal favor. The outward sacrifices and building cannot resume until the inward life is cleansed and born anew.

1 Keil & Delitzsch 2 Keil & Delitzsch

126