November 13

Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David had fallen very deeply into grievous sin in the matter of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. He fell more deeply than you and I shall hopefully ever do. But before the steep descent into this maelstrom of wickedness, he had known the Lord; had walked in sweet communion with God; had known as few will ever know, the peace, joy, and blessedness of living day to day in sweet, close fellowship with our heavenly Father. But now the consciousness of his dark sin and betrayal of God grieved him, gnawed at his heart and he found no rest, comfort, or peace of mind. He longed to be restored to that state of close, blessed fellowship with the Lord that fills the God-shaped vacuum in our heart, and in great agony and grief of spirit he cried out to God in the words of today’s verse: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Our loving, merciful heavenly Father graciously pardoned him and restored him to fellowship. The only escape from your own personal descent into a maelstrom of sin, wretchedness and grief is to cry out like David, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30