For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
    and blot out all my iniquity. (NIV)

Who of us has not sat here in the dust with David? Who among us does not need to? David had been like a rabbit, caught in Nathan’s prophetic headlights. He knew he was the ”the man” (2 Sam 12:7). This psalm is David’s ‘Mea Culpa’. He doesn’t try to divert attention elsewhere, or argue someone else’s responsibility for his circumstances. He doesn’t blame it on his genes. No, he keeps on saying ”my”: ”…my transgressions…my iniquity…my sin…” His sincere prayer is ”Cleanse me…wash me…” He knew that although his sin had affected others terribly and tragically, ultimately, and above all, it was against God. Only God could forgive. He felt dirty – besmirched by sin. He was dirty. But he knew God could make him clean.

‘However much God longs to forgive, He cannot, until confession is made. We must acknowledge our lapse from virtue! Blot out, as from a record; wash, as foul stains from linen; cleanse, as a leper by the touch of Christ. Our only plea is the multitude of God’s tender mercies.’ F.B.Meyer