2022 Lent Devotional – Day 20

Confession for Restoration

Psalm 51

When we read Psalm 51, we can clearly see that it speaks of the depth of sin and the wonder of God’s mercy. It can safely be deduced that this Psalm is written by or for someone who has really blown it big time. Even though some section of the Psalm focuses on the reality of sinfulness and God’s judgment, it ends with a message of hope and restoration.

The entire Psalm 51 by David is a wonderful example of contrition, confession, and the abundant grace of God. David, in one brief encounter with the prophet Nathan, unaware of his sin, became remorsefully aware of what he had done. David does not make excuses. He does not blame others. He does not say the devil made him do it. “He was the man,” and he knew it. Immediately, he looked inward and saw his sin. As a result, David discovered that as horrific as his sin was, God’s grace was beyond compare.

David says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me”. What sin does, and to some extent by our own faults, is breaking the fellowship with God and others. David acknowledges having sinned against God. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes our actions hurt God and others. In spite of the damage sin causes, it does not put an end to God’s relationship with us.

David had thrown himself at the mercy of God which led him to do the only thing he could do, ask God for forgiveness. Just as David felt he was a sinner before he was born and could not do anything about his sin as an embryo in his mother’s womb, he knew that he cannot do anything about it now either. The first step to reconciliation is asking for forgiveness. In order to atone for his sin, David could not pay or make any sacrifice. His only option was to ask God for forgiveness.

David needed the joy of his salvation to be restored, the joy not the salvation. David never lost his salvation or relationship with God as God’s son, but the fellowship of that relationship suffered. All David had to do was make a confession to bring about reconciliation and restoration. God is ever ready to restore our relationships with him. In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Absolutely nothing!

Mr. Surender Pokhal