We continue with our meditation
on Psalm 51:10-12 (“Create in me a clean heart . . . “
Today: “Take not your holy Spirit from me”
David was devastated when he
realized the seriousness of the sins he had committed. At such a moment, it
would be reasonable to think he was thinking of his predecessor, King Saul,
from whom God did take his Spirit. David recognized that his own sin was
perhaps even more grevious than the sins of Saul, and so he trembled with fear.
One commentator suggests that he also thought of Cain, who was cast totally
from the Lord (see Gen. 4:14) and also driven from the land he inhabited,
destined to become a wander and a vagabond upon the earth.
Tough stuff. Have you ever felt
perhaps that because of your own sin God was going to give up on you? Then you
can relate with David’s despondency at this moment of his life, the moment when
his eyes were open to see the evil he had committed.
Yesterday we looked at “Cast me
not away from your presence” and today completes the couplet “and take not your
holy spirit from me.”
Don’t forget that It was the
Holy Spirit of God that gave David the power to prophesy, and also to compose the
beautiful Psalms which are so much of our spiritual heritage. In fact, even at
the moment of his greatest despondency, David was praying the very words which
would become the psalm we are considering.
Peter also understood that without
the Holy Spirit, purity and holiness of heart could not be restored to him and
that his prayer “Create in me a clean heart” would not be heard.
Of course the Good news is that the Lord did hear his
prayer, and that the Lord did not give up on him. And neither does He give up
on us. At another point in the psalms, the Lord says of the descendants of
David:
If his sons forsake my law and refuse to
walk as I decree . . .
. . . Then I will punish their offenses with
the rod . . .
. . . But I will never take back my love:
my
truth will never fail. (Psalm
89:31-34)
We do well to pray Psalm 51
frequently during these days of Lent, realizing that by praying the Psalm we
are entering into a spiritual journey.
First, serious contrition followed by eloquent prayer for forgiveness which then
turns to hope and joy and praise.
God bless you
