S)"16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. "
Psalm 51:16-17 (NASB)
O) This psalm has been one of my favorites for a long time. The feelings of remorse and repentence that he writes in this psalm are just so familiar and there's comfort in knowing that the LORD is merciful. This verse in particular, though, shows the root of repentance, I think. God doesn't want us to pay for our sins through some kind of sacrifice. He wants to see that we recognize the need for His mercy. He wants to see that we have foresaken our pride in favor of submitting to Him.
As a side note, there's a footnote in this passage linking verse 17 to Psalm 34:18.
As a side note, there's a footnote in this passage linking verse 17 to Psalm 34:18.
A) There's a concept that people have to "hit rock bottom" before change will happen. Here's what I think, because this is my experience and this is what these verses show me. People have to get to a point where their own actions have broken their own heart. True change comes from submission to God. I know that because I've lived it. True submission only happened in my life when my own actions caused my own heart to break. I had no one to blame but myself. From there, my Father in heaven was able to mend my broken heart and heal my broken spirit the way only He can do. In order to remain repentant and remain submitted to God, I can never forget the things that broke my heart, the things from which I have been forgiven.
P) Father, Your mercy to me is too much to be called "great" and I can never repay the debt I have created. I can only thank You that in Your holiness You have compassion and in Your justice there was redemption through Your Son. My actions have broken my own heart in my past. While I have been forgiven and You have healed me, I pray that I never forget those experiences. Let me always remember how You have saved me. Holy Spirit, remind me of mercy shown to Your servant. Encourage me that the sins of my past are truly forgiven and that if or when I sin again, that in a contrite heart I will be forgiven and healed again. Strengthen me, though, to walk in Your righteousness. Strengthen me to remain upright in all Your ways, LORD. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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