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Illustration for Psalm 51: Create in Me a Clean Heart

Psalm 51

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Comfort

David made a terrible mistake and felt very, very sorry. He prayed to God asking to be washed clean on the inside — as white as snow. He asked God to create a brand new heart in him. This psalm shows us that God forgives anyone who truly says sorry.

  1. 1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
  2. 2Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
  3. 3For I know my transgressions; my sin is always before me.
  4. 4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are right when You speak, and blameless when You judge.
  5. 5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
  6. 6Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
  7. 7Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
  8. 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
  9. 9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
  10. 10Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
  11. 11Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
  12. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
  13. 13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.
  14. 14Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
  15. 15O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
  16. 16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
  17. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
  18. 18In Your good pleasure, prosper Zion; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
  19. 19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

What it means

King David wrote this psalm after doing something very wrong. He didn't make excuses — he told God everything honestly and asked for a completely new heart. God delights in honesty and always forgives those who truly come to Him.

A little prayer

God, I have done wrong and I am truly sorry. Please forgive me and clean me on the inside. Create a new heart in me — one that really wants to please You. Thank You for Your amazing mercy. Amen.

Memory verse

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10 (BSB)

It asks for a fresh start on the inside, which is the only place a fresh start can begin.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. David asks to be made clean on the inside rather than to have the consequences taken away. Why that order?
  2. He asks God to create a clean heart — create, like making something from nothing. What does that say about how bad he felt?
  3. The psalm says God does not want an animal offering, but a broken and humble heart. What does a humble heart look like?
  4. Is there a difference between being sorry and being caught?

Try this

Washed white

Drop a spot of ink or food colouring into a jug of water and watch it spread. Then keep pouring in clean water until you cannot see it. Read verse 7 while you pour.

You will need: A clear jug, water, a drop of food colouring.

From the blog

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Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)